Forms of Energy
Year 7 🌡️ Energy & Thermodynamics Identify kinetic, potential, thermal, light, sound and chemical energy.
⚡ Energy Stores
Energy is stored in different ways. The main energy stores are:
| Energy Store | Example |
|---|---|
| Kinetic (movement) | Moving car, running person |
| Gravitational potential | Book on a shelf, water in a dam |
| Elastic potential | Stretched rubber band, compressed spring |
| Thermal (heat) | Hot cup of tea, fire |
| Chemical | Food, batteries, fuel |
| Nuclear | Uranium in a reactor |
| Electromagnetic | Light, radio waves |
🔄 Energy Transfer Pathways
Energy is transferred between stores via pathways: mechanical work, electrical work, heating, and radiation.
Torch: Chemical store (battery) → electrical pathway → light radiation + thermal store (heat)
Falling ball: Gravitational PE → kinetic energy → thermal (when it hits the ground)
KE & GPE Equations
Kinetic Energy & Gravitational PE
$$KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \qquad GPE = mgh$$
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⚡ Energy Calculator