Title: Describe the primary forms of energy and their uses.
Course: Energy Source Life Cycle I (20903-I) > Section: Distinguishing Among Sources of Energy

Description should include uses of

- thermal energy – internal energy of a system in thermodynamic equilibrium by virtue of its temperature, used for such things as home heating, transportation, cooking, water heating, industrial production, boilers, nuclear medicine, and x-rays
- mechanical energy – energy associated with the motion and position of an object, used for such things as transportation, power production, wind turbines, and steam turbines
- chemical energy – energy derived from chemical reactions (e.g., batteries, fuel, food), used for such things as transportation and electronics
- electrical energy – energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor for residential, commercial, and industrial use
- radiant energy – energy transferred by electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light)
- nuclear energy – energy stored in the nuclei of atoms
- sound energy – produced by vibrations, when energy travels through a substance in the form of waves
- elastic energy – potential energy stored in a coiled spring
- gravitational energy – potential energy stored in objects higher than the ground.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What applications of chemical energy exist?
- How might one determine the type of energy most effective for a given application?
- How is electricity a result of thermal, mechanical, or chemical generation?
- What type of energy powers batteries? Why is that the best choice?
- What types of energy are used in transportation?