What exactly is energy?
Well, energy is in everything:
in the sunlight, in the wind chimes, and even in Milo here.
Isn’t that right, Milo?
…Milo?
Aw, he’s always sleepy after a walk… but the potential is there.
See, energy can’t be created or destroyed. It’s only ever transferred.
Potential energy is stored by an object because of its position or state.
This roller coaster has potential energy because it’s high up and ready to fall!
Potential energy transforms to kinetic energy on the way down.
An object has kinetic energy when it’s moving which turns back into potential energy at the top…
[The carriage moves up and down the rollercoaster ride]
…then kinetic, then potential, then kinetic…
then – how is he still asleep?!
The Sun is the biggest source of energy on our planet.
Heat energy from the Sun is absorbed by everything on Earth, including us.
While light energy from the sun makes things visible (if you’ve got your eyes open).
People have invented ways to generate heat and light energy too.
These solar panels take light energy from the sun and convert it into electrical energy.
This electrical energy is transferred to your home where it powers your bedside lamp, your toaster and your TV.
[TV plays]
Can you hear that, Milo?
That’s another type of energy: sound energy.
[Milo snores]
Unbelievable…
The light and sound from your TV are examples of useful energy but your telly also gives out heat, which isn’t useful at all.
So we call it wasted energy.
Nuclear energy and chemical energy are other types of potential energy.
Potential energy is stored in the atoms that everything is made of or in the bonds that hold atoms together.
But something needs to happen to release it.
Take gas, for example. That contains chemical energy.
And when the hob is lit, the gas burns, releasing its chemical energy as heat and light energy.
Hang on a minute!
I think that’s Milo woken up!
You see, food is where our body gets the chemical energy it needs to function.
Bon appetit, lads!
