Energy is one of the most fundamental parts of our universe.
We use energy to do work. Energy lights our cities. Energy powers our vehicles, trains, planes and rockets. Energy warms our homes, cooks our food, plays our music, and gives us pictures on television. Energy powers machinery in factories and tractors on a farm.
Energy from the sun gives us light during the day. It dries our clothes when they’re hanging outside on a clothes line. It helps plants grow. Energy stored in plants is eaten by animals, giving them energy. And predator animals eat their prey, which gives the predator animal energy.
Everything we do is connected to energy in one form or another.
Energy is defined as:
“The ability to do work.”
When we eat, our bodies transform the energy stored in the food into energy to do work. When we run or walk, we “burn” food energy in our bodies. When we think or read or write, we are also doing work. Many times it’s really hard work!
Cars, planes, light bulbs, boats and machinery also transform energy into work.
Work means moving something, lifting something, warming something, lighting something. All these are a few of the various types of work. But where does energy come from?
There are many sources of energy. In The Energy Story, we will look at the energy that makes our world work. Energy is an important part of our daily lives.
The forms of energy we will look at include:
- Electricity
- Biomass Energy – energy from plants
- Geothermal Energy
- Fossil Fuels – Coal, Oil and Natural Gas
- Hydro Power and Ocean Energy
- Nuclear Energy
- Solar Energy
- Wind Energy
- Transportation Energy
We will also look at turbines and generators, at what electricity is, how energy is sent to users, and how we can decrease or conserve the energy we use. Finally, we’ll look at the “newer” forms of energy…and take a look at energy in the future.
You can start with Chapter 1: Energy – What Is It? by clicking the link below. Or you can go to any of the other chapters.
The Energy Story – Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Energy – What Is It?
Chapter 2: Electricity
Chapter 3: Static Electricity & Resistance
Chapter 4: Electrical Circuits
Chapter 5: Stored Energy & Batteries
Chapter 6: Generators, Turbines and Power Plants
Chapter 7: Electricity Transmission System
Chapter 8: Fossil Fuels – Coal, Oil and Natural Gas
Chapter 9: Natural Gas Distribution System
Chapter 10: Biomass Energy
Chapter 11: Geothermal Energy
Chapter 12: Hydro Power
Chapter 13: Nuclear Energy – Fission and Fusion
Chapter 14: Ocean Energy
Chapter 15: Solar Energy
Chapter 16: Wind Energy
Chapter 17: Renewable vs. Nonrenewable – Environment & Air Quality
Chapter 18: Energy for Transportation
Chapter 19: Saving Energy and Energy Efficiency
Chapter 20: Hydrogen and Energy In Our Future
Conclusion