Energy Vocab Flashcards
Radiant energy
the energy of light (the physical energy resulting from electromagnetic radiation, usually observed as it radiates from a source into the surrounding environment.)
Thermal energy
heat or temperature of an object, all objects have it.
Electrical energy
a type of kinetic energy caused by moving electric charges. The amount of energy depends on the speed of the charges – the faster they move, the more electrical energy they carry. Energy carried by electrical currents (wall sockets.)
Mechanical energy
energy due to motion and position of an object.
Nuclear energy
energy stored in the nucleus of an atom.
Chemical energy
is stored energy (potential energy). It is stored in the bonds between atoms and molecules. Chemical energy is what holds the atoms in a molecule together. It also is what holds molecules in a substance together.
Law of Conservation of Energy
states that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. It may be transformed from one form to another. Energy that is stored in chemical bonds.
Work
the use of force to move an object. For work to be done, the force must be applied in the same direction that the object moves.
Force
an action that changes or maintains the motion of a body or object. Simply stated, a force is a push or a pull. Forces can change an object’s speed, its direction, and even its shape.
Potential energy
is the stored energy an object has because of its position or state.
Kinetic energy
is the energy of moving matter. Anything that is moving has kinetic energy—from atoms in matter to stars in outer space. Things with kinetic energy can do work
Electrical circuit
is a closed loop through which electric current can flow. A circuit must include a source of voltage and conductors such as wires to carry the current from the source of voltage and back again.
