A running dog, a glowing lamp, a ringing bell and a warm stove all have something in common: energy.
Key idea
Energy is what makes things move, light up, heat up or make sound. It comes in many forms.
| Form | Examples |
|---|---|
| Motion | a rolling ball, wind, a running child |
| Stored | food, a battery, a stretched rubber band, a book on a high shelf |
| Heat | a stove, a warm mug, the Sun's warmth |
| Light | a lamp, the Sun, a firefly |
| Sound | a drum, a voice, thunder |
| Electrical | electricity in wires, lightning |
The faster something moves, the more motion energy it has. A fast ball hits harder than a slow one.
Worked example: Find the energy
A child holds a stretched slingshot band, then lets go and the pebble flies. What forms of energy are there?
- The stretched band holds stored energy.
- When it snaps back, the pebble gets motion energy.
- The snap makes a little sound.
Answer: Stored energy, then motion (and a little sound).
Common mistake
Thinking only moving things have energy. Food has stored energy that your body uses, and a ball held high has stored energy that turns into motion when it falls.
Try it at home
- Walk through your home and list ten things that use or give off energy.
- Next to each, write the form: motion, stored, heat, light, sound or electrical. Many have more than one!