What is energy?
Energy makes change; it does things for us. It moves cars
along the road and boats over the water. It bakes a cake in
the oven and keeps ice frozen in the freezer. It plays our
favorite songs on the radio and lights our homes. Energy makes
our bodies grow and allows our minds to think. Scientists
define energy as the ability to do work. People have learned
how to change energy from one form to another so that we can
do work more easily and live more comfortably.
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
WIND
GEOTHERMAL
WATER
SOLAR
BIOMASS
NON - RENEWABLE ENERGY
OIL
COAL
NATURAL GAS
NUCLEAR
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 can be replenished in a short
period of time) 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.
-
The National Energy Education Development Project, Intermediate
Energy Infobook, 2007.
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