Potential and Kinetic Energy

Did you know that everything in the world can be organized into two categories or groups? These two groups are matter and energy. If something is not matter, it is energy. Energy is all around us. We can see it as light, feel it as heat, hear it as sound, and produce it as we do work. used. Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. Work takes place when energy is transferred to an object causing it to move or change. For example, when a golfer swings a golf club, the golfer transfers energy to the club causing it to move. The club then transfers energy to the ball causing it to roll across the green. Energy can also cause other kinds of changes in matter. For example, energy can cause liquid water to change into a gas called water vapor. There are two basic types of energy: potential and kinetic. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. It is energy that is in use. When the golfer swings the club, the club has kinetic energy. As the golf ball rolls across the green, it also has kinetic energy. All moving objects have kinetic energy. Things in our natural environment, like moving water and wind, also have kinetic energy. Potential energy is stored energy. It is energy that is not in use but available to do work. That means even when an object is sitting still, it has energy stored inside that can be turned into kinetic energy (motion). Some potential energy is based on position. Because of Earths gravitational pull, any object that can fall has stored energy. For example, if you have two books, and you place one book on the top shelf and one book on a lower shelf, the position of the book on the top shelf causes it to have greater potential energy. Potential energy can also be found in fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas. The chemical energy in fossil fuels is potential energy until it is released. Lets investigate the forms of energy, the sources of energy, and how energy can be transformed and

Sources, Origins, Transformations, and Uses

In addition to being stored or used, energy can also be transformed, or converted, from one form to another. If you have ever bounced a ball, you have witnessed a transformation of energy. As the ball is held above the ground, it has potential or stored energy. When it is released, the potential energy transforms into the kinetic energy of motion.

Some important sources of energy include fossil fuels, wood, wind, water (hydropower), the sun (solar energy), and the Earths interior. Fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas originate from the remains of ancient plants and animals and are rich in the elements carbon and hydrogen. These remains contain stored (potential) solar energy that the plants made through the process of photosynthesis and which was then used and stored by the animals that ate the plants. The diagram below shows how the stored or potential energy in fossil fuels can be released and transformed into kinetic energy through burning. Then, this thermal energy (heat) can be transformed into electrical energy by your local power company. As this electrical energy enters your home, it can then be transformed into mechanical energy by your household appliances. What other energy transformations occur in your home each day? Energy Transformation

Fossil fuels are used to heat water and air, power cars and airplanes, cook our food, generate electricity, and make plastics and fertilizers. Two advantages of using fossil fuels are that they produce huge amounts of electricity and are easy to transport. They can be used by power plants anywhere in the world that are connected to a transportation source. On the other hand, there are some disadvantages to using fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels causes widespread water and air pollution, the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is increased, the mining process is dangerous, and large areas of land are destroyed through the process of strip mining. The consequences of these negative effects can lead to acid rain, climate change, and depletion of the ozone layer. In addition, these sources of energy take very long periods of time to form and once they are gone, they are basically nonrenewable.

Native American and early European settlers used the energy of their muscles to do what had to be done centuries ago, but now, in Virginia we have a wide variety of energy sources to consider. Fossils fuels including coal, oil, and natural gas are big business in our state. How does Virginia compare in energy sources and productions with the United States on the whole? What role do you play in this picture? How much energy do you use in a day?

Since its birth as a nation over 200 years ago, the use of energy in the United States has changed dramatically. In 1776, muscle power and fuel wood were the most commonly used energy sources. In addition, water-powered mills ground grain for bread and wind power enabled ships to transport goods and passengers from place to place. Over the next 100 years, coal began to emerge as a common energy source. Coal-fired furnaces came on the scene and coal-powered locomotives crisscrossed the country. During the early 1900s, the use of petroleum expanded with the discovery of oil fields in the western United States. After World War II, natural gas began to be used to heat homes and gasoline-powered cars and trucks began to replace coal-fired locomotives. However, as the demand for electricity expanded, the demand for coal increased once again to run electric power plants across the country. In todays world, modern industrial societies are more and more dependent upon energy and the major sources of energy, fossil fuels. This dependence on fossil fuels has created new problems worldwide. In the United States, our need for energy has surpassed our production of energy. Because of this we are more and more dependent on the energy reserves of foreign nations. Think! What kind of effect would an unanticipated or unexpected energy shortage have on you, your community, your state, and your country?
Wood is another important source of energy. As a tree grows, solar energy is stored in its cells. When wood is burned, this potential energy is released as heat. Wood is one of the worlds most important forms of nonfossil energy. Almost half of the wood harvested each year on Earth is used for fuel. This is especially true in less industrialized nations where people rely, or depend heavily on wood for heating their homes and cooking. One advantage of using wood and other forms of biomass like tree branches, yard clippings, leftover crops, and wood chips, bark, and sawdust from lumber mills is that they can be replenished over relatively short periods of time. Even though they are considered to be renewable energy sources, they still need to be wisely managed. One major disadvantage to burning wood or any other biomass material is the negative affect on air quality. Burning wood for energy is seen as a contributor to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the Earths atmosphere.

Wind is another important source of energy. It is used all over the world and is one of the oldest forms of energy used by man. Wind is formed by the heating of the Earths surface. As the surface

of the Earth heats up, the air above the Earth heats up, becomes lighter, and begins to rise. As it rises, cooler, heavier air moves in to take its place. This movement of air creates wind. Think! Do you think there is enough wind power outside your school to build a windmill? There are a number of advantages to using wind as an energy source. Wind energy is easily captured by windmills or turbines and transformed into mechanical energy. It can then be used to pump water for irrigation, grind grain, or generate electricity. Wind energy is also renewable and available on a perpetual, or ongoing, basis. Because it is inexpensive and pollution free, wind is one of the fastest growing energy sources on Earth. steady winds available for use at all times.
Water is another important source of energy with many advantages. Moving water, or

One disadvantage is that few locations have

hydropower, has been used for centuries to turn wheels and power mills along the worlds rivers and streams. Today, falling water is used to turn turbines to generate electricity. This hydroelectric energy is then sent through power lines to homes, schools and businesses. Like wind, the kinetic energy of water is renewable and available on a perpetual basis. It is also a clean source of power that does not pollute the environment. One disadvantage is that drought prone areas, or areas with few water resources, cannot benefit from this energy resource. The sun is another important source of energy. In addition to the solar energy that is stored in fossil fuels, the sun constantly produces energy in the form of heat and light (radiant energy). Although this energy has been used for thousands of years to dry clothes and food, modern technologies have been developed to capture and use solar energy for different purposes. Giant mirrors are being used across the globe to heat tanks of water to produce steam to generate electricity. Water heated in this way can also be pumped directly to faucets in homes and businesses. Solar cells, which act like batteries, turn sunlight directly into electricity. Solar cells can be used to power calculators and telephones, heat buildings, and even run satellites that orbit the Earth. Like wind and water energy, solar energy is renewable and available on a perpetual basis. Although solar energy is free and produces no pollution, it has several disadvantages. It doesnt work at night, and it can be unreliable in areas that are not sunny year round. In addition, solar power stations and solar cells can be very expensive to build and run. the power of the sun? Hydrogen, the most abundant gas in the universe, stores a great amount of energy. However,

Think! Can you cook using

hydrogen is not considered an energy source because, unlike fossil fuels, it can only store and

transport energy.

On the sun, hydrogen atoms are fusing with one another to release tremendous

energy. On Earth, hydrogen is used to transform energy in a variety of ways.

Geothermal energy from inside the Earth is another important source of energy. This type of energy occurs when underground water is located near pockets of hot magma. The water is heated to boiling and escapes the Earths surface in the form of steam. In some areas of the world this steam is used to generate electricity. Around the world, geothermal energy plants pump water into areas of underground magma to produce power. One such plant is located near San Francisco, California. In the past, geothermal energy could only be used in areas with tectonic plate boundaries but now we are relying on the insulating properties of the Earth to keep us warm or cool. Geothermal energy has several advantages. It does not pollute the environment, it is renewable, and unlike coal and fossil fuels, it is practically unlimited. As with other forms of energy, geothermal power has some disadvantages. Geothermal plants cannot be located everywhere; they require areas where magma comes close to the Earths surface and surface rocks allow drilling. Also, heavily populated areas can have a difficult time getting the energy into their homes because of a need for pipes and space. Another source of energy can be found in the tidal movements of our oceans. New technologies are being developed to transform the kinetic energy of ocean waves and tides into electricity. This type of energy is promising because it is clean, renewable, and more dependable than wind and solar energy sources. Resembling underwater wind turbines, many of these new tidal energy systems harness, or control, the continuous movement of ocean waves and tidal currents. Think! What are some disadvantages this type of energy resource might have? Throughout this study of energy we have witnessed how energy is often transformed or converted from one form to another. A good example occurs in the formation and burning of fossils fuels such as coal. The ancient plants and animals that make up fossil fuels used solar energy to produce food and grow when they were alive. This solar energy was stored in their cells in the form of chemical energy. When fossil fuels, such as coal, are burned, this chemical energy is transformed or converted into thermal (heat) energy. This thermal energy can then be used to produce mechanical energy to run machines or produce electricity. Electric energy can then be turned into light energy.

Hey, isnt that where this whole cycle started?

We now know that most forms of energy can

be transformed into other forms of energy. transformations that occur around you every day?

Think! What are some other energy

The Role of Solar Energy

The sun is an important source of energy. Every day the suns energy travels through space in the form of solar radiation. Solar radiation is made up of different types of radiation that move in waves. Some of these types include infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and visible light. We cannot see infrared radiation but we feel it as heat. Infrared radiation is a lower energy wave with a longer wavelength. Ultraviolet radiation is the portion of solar radiation that burns or tans our skin. It is a higher energy wave with a shorter wavelength. Visible light makes up the only portion of solar radiation that our eyes can see. It falls between infrared and ultraviolet in strength and length of wavelength. Although the sun releases a tremendous amount of energy, the Earth receives only a small portion each day. This small portion, however, is responsible for powering the motion of the atmosphere, the oceans, and many other processes that take place at the Earths surface. As the suns energy enters our atmosphere, about one third of it is reflected back out into space by gases in our atmosphere. About one half of the energy that ends up striking the Earth is absorbed by the Earths surface. Earths Heat Budget demonstrates the balance of the incoming and outgoing energy of the Earth in the form of heat. This reflection and absorption of the suns energy is important! The amount of incoming solar radiation has to be in close balance with the amount of energy that leaves the atmosphere. If this balance is disrupted or interrupted, the Earth would heat up or cool down too much. Either of these situations could make life on Earth very unpleasant. When the Earth has excess carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases in its atmosphere, a disruptive greenhouse effect can result. Although these gases do not interfere with the solar radiation entering the earth, they do interfere with the heat radiation trying to leave the Earths atmosphere. Instead of letting heat waves escape, these extra gases absorb the heat waves and

reflect them down to reradiate, or radiate again, the Earths atmosphere and surface. This could eventually change Earths climate for the worse. As the suns energy strikes the Earth, the Earths surface is heated unequally. This occurs because land heats up and cools down faster than water. If you have ever been to a pool in the summer, you have experienced this unequal heating. In the middle of the afternoon the concrete surrounding a pool feels very hot while the pool water feels cool. In the evening, however, the concrete will feel cool to your bare feet and the pool water will feel warm. This unequal heating and cooling powers the motion of the atmosphere and the oceans. When air and water are heated, their molecules move faster and farther apart. This reduces the density of the water and air causing their molecules to rise. On the other hand, cooler air and water molecules move slower, are denser, and begin to descend or fall. In the atmosphere, rising warm air and descending cooler air forms a cyclic, or circular, rising and falling pattern called convection. This same circular motion caused by heated molecules occurs in water as warmer, less dense water rises and cooler, denser water falls. Radiation and convection from the Earths surface transfer or distribute heat energy. This energy powers the global circulation of the atmosphere and the oceans. As oceans, lakes, and rivers absorb thermal (heat) energy, water vapor is carried up into the atmosphere by rising warm air. Water vapor is formed from water that evaporates from the Earths surface. As the warm air rises, it actually gives off some thermal as the water vapor in it cools down and changes into minute, or tiny, condensed water particles. As more and more of these condensed water particles join together, a cloud is formed. If the water particles become too large and heavy, they fall to the ground as precipitation. When heated air rises rapidly into the atmosphere, the result can be a storm. A storm is a violent weather condition caused by a disturbance in the Earths atmosphere. One kind of storm is a thunderstorm. Thunderstorms usually have strong winds, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. Some thunderstorms are formed when the land is strongly heated. This results in a mass of cooler air forcing its way underneath rising warm air. Hurricanes are a type of storm that forms near the equator over warm ocean waters. They begin as thunderstorms and grow larger as they take in more and more thermal energy (heat) and moisture from the warm ocean water.

Management of Natural Resources

Virginia is rich in renewable and nonrenewable resources. These resources provide the materials Virginians need for their daily lives and their states economy. Lets investigate the wealth of resources available to us, the proper management of these resources, measures taken to reduce the loss of these resources, and the costs and benefits of conservation policies. Virginia has a wealth of resources. Some of our renewable resources include water, air, soil, plant life, and animal life. Renewable resources are those that can be used and naturally replaced in a relatively short period of time. Modern society also depends upon many nonrenewable resources. Some of these nonrenewable resources include coal, oil, natural gas, minerals, and nuclear power. Nonrenewable resources are those that are not replaced as they are used or take thousands or even millions of years to replace. Supplies of nonrenewable resources could eventually be used up, or depleted. The proper management of Virginias resources is very important. People, as well as wildlife and plant life, are dependent upon the availability of good water, air, and soil as well as energy producing resources such as fossil fuels. Local, state, and federal governments have important roles in managing and protecting our resources as do individuals and corporations in the private sector. Some of these roles include wildlife protection, forestry, waste management, and the conservation of air, water, and soil. resources. Management of our renewable and nonrenewable resources occurs at all levels of government. However, conservation of resources and environmental protection also begin with you, the individual. There are many things you can do to conserve Virginias resources and prevent pollution. Some of these include conserving water use at home and school, walking or riding bikes instead of using gasoline powered vehicles for short trips, using non-toxic cleaning agents such as baking soda and vinegar, and stopping toxic household, automobile, and gardening chemicals from being poured down household drains and storm drains. Volunteering in your area to help clean up nearby bodies of water can also aid in conserving Virginias water and soil resources. The planting of trees and vegetation beside waterways helps to control and reduce erosion and flooding, filter toxic chemicals, and provide food and Conservation is the care and protection of natural

habitat for plant and animal life. Conservation begins with individual acts of stewardship; every individual taking responsibility for doing his or her part. Local, state, and federal governments are also responsible for conserving and managing our resources. One way they do this is by taking preventive measures to reduce the harmful effects of land-use and environmental hazards. For example, many local governments regulate, or control, land-use and zoning. Land-use and zoning regulations control growth and development. They make sure that land resources are being used wisely and that the impact on nearby ecosystems and natural resources is limited. Conservation regulations make governments and developers look at something called sustainable development. Sustainable development looks at the long-term use of land and natural resources. It is the process of developing land to meet the needs of a community today without negatively impacting the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In Virginia, communities in coastal areas must obey the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act which requires local governments to protect and manage local water resources from the harmful effects of economic development and growth. In addition, federal and state lawmakers have been busy writing laws to protect our states resources and help fund programs and technology to improve water and air quality. Some of these include the Clean Air Act that originated in 1963 and the Clean Water Act of 1972 on the federal level, and the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law of 1966, the Ground Water Protection Strategy for Virginia in 1987, and the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Act of 1997. Virginias Department of Environmental Quality works closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to monitor and evaluate hazardous pollutants statewide. In addition to these laws and agencies, Virginia has a number of programs that address pollution monitoring and prevention as well as environmental education.
Although regulations, incentives, and voluntary efforts help conserve resources and protect environmental quality, government policy makers must consider both the costs and benefits of conservation programs. The conservation of resources and reduction of pollution are valuable, but we must also consider the impact conservation measures will have on the people and industries that depend on these natural resources. When we consider these options we are thinking in terms of cost/benefit tradeoffs.

The benefits of conservation regulations can include such things as reduced human and wildlife mortality, improved water quality, species preservation, and better recreation opportunities. The costs that result from regulations, such as those that reduce or limit pollution, can include higher prices for consumer goods and higher taxes. Although policy makers must weigh the cost/benefit tradeoffs of their decisions, preventive measures such as limiting pollution and controlling land-use can reduce the impact of future potential problems. replacement. Conservation professionals realize that pollution prevention, waste management, and natural resource protection are less costly than cleanup and reconstruction or