|
|
Energy Facts
It
comes in different forms -- heat (thermal), light (radiant), mechanical,
electrical, chemical, and nuclear energy. Energy is in everything.
We use energy to do everything we do, from making a jump shot to baking
our favorite cookies to sending astronauts into space -- energy is
there, making sure we have the power to do it all. There are two types
of energy -- stored (potential) energy and working (kinetic) energy.
For example, the food you eat contains chemical energy, and your body
stores this energy until you release it when you work or play. Learn
more about these different forms of energy.
All forms of energy are stored in different ways, in the energy sources
that we use every day. These sources are divided into two groups
-- renewable (an energy source that we can use over and over again)
and nonrenewable (an energy source that we are using up and cannot
recreate in a short period of time).
Renewable and nonrenewable energy
sources can be used to produce secondary energy sources including
electricity and hydrogen.
Renewable energy sources include solar energy, which comes from the
sun and can be turned into electricity and heat. Wind, geothermal
energy from inside the earth, biomass from plants, and hydropower and
ocean energy from water are also renewable energy sources.
However, we get most of our energy from nonrenewable energy sources,
which include the fossil fuels -- oil, natural gas, and coal. They're
called fossil fuels because they were formed over millions and millions
of years by the action of heat from the Earth's core and pressure
from rock and soil on the remains (or "fossils") of dead plants and
animals. Another nonrenewable energy source is the element uranium,
whose atoms we split (through a process called nuclear fission) to
create heat and ultimately electricity.
We use all these energy sources to generate the electricity we need
for our homes, businesses, schools, and factories. Electricity "energizes"
our computers, lights, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners,
to name only a few uses.
We use energy to run our cars and trucks. Both the gasoline used
in our cars, and the diesel fuel used in our trucks are made from
oil. The propane that fuels our outdoor grills and makes hot air
balloons soar is made from oil and natural gas.
|
|
|
|
|