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ASPECt

Topic: Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation

Choose a complexity level to see a list of key ideas related to Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation. Select a key idea to see the sub-ideas, assessment items, results from our field testing, student misconceptions, and NGSS statements for that idea.

Additional content related to this topic is available in the Original Project.

Forms of Energy

The amount of kinetic energy (motion energy) an object has depends on the speed and the mass of the object.

The amount of thermal energy an object has depends on the temperature and the mass of the object and the material of which the object is made.

The gravitational potential energy of an object near the surface of the earth is related to the distance the object is above the surface of the earth (or an alternate reference point), and the mass of the object.

The amount of elastic potential energy of an elastic object has depends is related to on the amount the object is stretched or compressed and how difficult it is to stretch or compress the object.

Some chemical reactions release energy into the surroundings, whereas other chemical reactions take in energy from the surroundings.

Most of what goes on in the universe—from exploding stars and biological growth to the operation of machines and the motion of people—involves some form of energy being converted into one or more other forms of energy.

Most of what goes on in the universe—from exploding stars and biological growth to the operation of machines and the motion of people—involves some form of energy being converted into one or more other forms of energy.

Energy Transfer

Conduction is the transfer of energy that occurs when a warmer object (or quantities of a solid, liquid or gas) comes in contact with a cooler object (or quantities of a solid, liquid or gas) without a transfer of matter.

Temperature variations in fluids such as air and water lead to currents that circulate the fluid, and this circulation transfers thermal energy from place to place in the fluid.

Light transfers energy from a light source to a receiver.

Energy can be transferred mechanically when an object exerts a force on another object even if the objects are not in contact.

Energy can be transferred electrically when an electrical source is connected in a complete circuit to an electrical device.

Sound can transfer energy from one location to another.

Conduction is the transfer of energy that occurs when a warmer object (or quantities of a solid, liquid or gas) comes in contact with a cooler object (or quantities of a solid, liquid or gas) without a transfer of matter.
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Light transfers energy from a light source to a receiver.

Conduction is the transfer of energy that occurs when a warmer object (or quantities of a solid, liquid or gas) comes in contact with a cooler object (or quantities of a solid, liquid or gas) without a transfer of matter.
-and-
When objects collide, contact forces can transfer energy from one object to another resulting in a change in the objects’ motion.

Conduction is the transfer of energy that occurs when a warmer object (or quantities of a solid, liquid or gas) comes in contact with a cooler object (or quantities of a solid, liquid or gas) without a transfer of matter.
-and-
Energy can be transferred electrically when an electrical source is connected in a complete circuit to an electrical device.

Temperature variations in fluids such as air and water lead to currents that circulate the fluid, and this circulation transfers thermal energy from place to place in the fluid.
-and-
Light transfers energy from a light source to a receiver.

Light transfers energy from a light source to a receiver.
-and-
When objects collide, contact forces can transfer energy from one object to another resulting in a change in the objects’ motion.

Temperature variations in fluids such as air and water lead to currents that circulate the fluid, and this circulation transfers thermal energy from place to place in the fluid.
-and-
Energy can be transferred by sound when a vibrating object produces sound that travels though a medium to a receiver.

Light transfers energy from a light source to a receiver.
-and-
Energy can be transferred electrically when an electrical source is connected in a complete circuit to an electrical device.

Light transfers energy from a light source to a receiver.
-and-
Sound can transfer energy from one location to another.

When objects collide, contact forces can transfer energy from one object to another resulting in a change in the objects’ motion.
-and-
Energy can be transferred electrically when an electrical source is connected in a complete circuit to an electrical device.

When objects collide, contact forces can transfer energy from one object to another resulting in a change in the objects’ motion.
-and-
Sound can transfer energy from one location to another.

Energy Degradation and Dissipation

Transformations and transfers of energy within a system usually result in some energy being released into its surrounding environment causing an increase in the thermal energy of the environment.

Energy Conservation

A decrease in energy in one object or set of objects always is accompanied by an increase in energy in another object or set of objects.

Forms of Energy

The amount of kinetic energy (motion energy) an object has is proportional to the mass of the object and increases rapidly with increasing speed.

The amount of thermal energy an object has depends on the disordered motions of its atoms or molecules and the number and types of atoms or molecules of which the object is made.

Gravitational potential energy is associated with the separation of mutually attracting masses.

The amount of elastic potential energy stored in a stretched or compressed elastic object increases when the object is further stretched or compressed because stretching and compressing an object changes the distances between the atoms and molecules that make up the object.

Chemical energy is associated with the arrangement of atoms that make up the molecules of the reactants and products of a chemical reaction. Because the arrangement of atoms making up the molecules is different before and after the chemical reaction takes place, the amount of chemical energy in the system is also different.

Most of what goes on in the universe—from exploding stars and biological growth to the operation of machines and the motion of people—involves some form of energy being converted into one or more other forms of energy.

Energy Transfer

Energy is transferred through a material by conduction by the random collisions of atoms and molecules that make up the material.

In a fluid, regions that have different temperatures have different densities. The action of a gravitational force on regions of different densities cause them to rise or fall, creating currents that contribute to the transfer of energy.

Energy can be transferred by electromagnetic radiation.

When two objects change relative position as a result of a contact force or a gravitational, magnetic, or electric force, the potential and kinetic energies of the system change.

Electrostatic potential energy can be stored in the separation of charged objects.

Energy is transferred by sound because of coordinated collisions between the atoms or molecules that make up the medium through which the sound travels.

Energy is transferred through a material by conduction by the random collisions of atoms and molecules that make up the material.
-and-
In a fluid, regions that have different temperatures have different densities. The action of a gravitational force on regions of different densities cause them to rise or fall, creating currents that contribute to the transfer of energy.

Conduction is the transfer of energy that occurs when a warmer object (or quantities of a solid, liquid or gas) comes in contact with a cooler object (or quantities of a solid, liquid or gas) without a transfer of matter.
-and-
Energy can be transferred by electromagnetic radiation.

Energy can be transferred mechanically when an object exerts a force on another object even if the objects are not in contact.
-and-
Electrostatic potential energy can be stored in the separation of charged objects.

Energy Degradation and Dissipation

Unless prevented from doing so, energy will become uniformly distributed.

Energy Degradation and Dissipation -AND- Energy Conservation

Regardless of what happens within a system, the total amount of energy in the system remains the same unless energy is added to or released from the system.
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Unless prevented from doing so, energy will become uniformly distributed.

Energy Conservation

Regardless of what happens within a system, the total amount of energy in the system remains the same unless energy is added to or released from the system.