Energy and EM Waves
Table of Contents:
Energy Stores
● Energy is the ability to do some work
● There are many ways of storing energy (Table 1)
Table 1: Types of Energy Stores
Energy Store Description
Kinetic Energy Stored in moving objects, for example a ball
that has been kicked.
Chemical Energy Stored in the bonds of chemical compounds
and released in chemical reactions. Coal,
wood, batteries and the energy stored in a fire
match are all sources of chemical energy.
Food – just like petrol or wood – relies on a
chemical reaction to release energy, and hence
is classed as a form of chemical energy.
Elastic (Strain) Energy Stored when we stretch, bend or compress
something elastic. An arrow being fired from
a bow is a good example: just before being
fired, the bow is stretched and bent, storing
elastic energy.
Nuclear Energy Stored in every atom and released during
nuclear fission (when large nuclei split up into
smaller nuclei and release energy) or nuclear
fusion (when small nuclei fuse to form larger
nuclei and release energy). We use nuclear
energy in a nuclear power station to release
energy from uranium or plutonium to produce
electricity.
Internal Energy Sometimes called heat or thermal energy,
internal energy is the energy stored in a
system. It includes the energy needed to
change the state of a substance, from solid to
liquid or liquid to gas. When an object has
increased internal energy, the particles are
Table of Contents:
Energy Stores
● Energy is the ability to do some work
● There are many ways of storing energy (Table 1)
Table 1: Types of Energy Stores
Energy Store Description
Kinetic Energy Stored in moving objects, for example a ball
that has been kicked.
Chemical Energy Stored in the bonds of chemical compounds
and released in chemical reactions. Coal,
wood, batteries and the energy stored in a fire
match are all sources of chemical energy.
Food – just like petrol or wood – relies on a
chemical reaction to release energy, and hence
is classed as a form of chemical energy.
Elastic (Strain) Energy Stored when we stretch, bend or compress
something elastic. An arrow being fired from
a bow is a good example: just before being
fired, the bow is stretched and bent, storing
elastic energy.
Nuclear Energy Stored in every atom and released during
nuclear fission (when large nuclei split up into
smaller nuclei and release energy) or nuclear
fusion (when small nuclei fuse to form larger
nuclei and release energy). We use nuclear
energy in a nuclear power station to release
energy from uranium or plutonium to produce
electricity.
Internal Energy Sometimes called heat or thermal energy,
internal energy is the energy stored in a
system. It includes the energy needed to
change the state of a substance, from solid to
liquid or liquid to gas. When an object has
increased internal energy, the particles are
