KS3 Energy Stores and Resources

Resources

Y7 Energy (5 lessons of content)

Types and Stores

Term	Definition
Chemical	Energy stored in a fuel and is obtained by breaking of chemical bonds i.e. burning fuels OR a chemical reaction in a cell/battery
Elastic	Energy stored due to a force on a stretched or compressed spring
Gravitational	Due to the position of an object in a gravitational field height above ground.
Kinetic	Energy stored in a moving object, faster they move the more energy contained
Nuclear	Energy obtained in a splitting the atom (not renewable) gives out a particle radiation
Potential	Energy that is stored in an object ready to be used but not in action. (i.e. chemical, elastic, gravitational potential
Thermal	Energy contained in a objects temperature
Conservation	Energy is never destroyed or made (since the start of the universe) it is only moved around to different places, spread out or concentrated. We say it is “transformed”
Resource	A source where energy can be obtained from i.e. a wind, solar, nuclear, tidal, geothermal, hydroelectric
Renewable	Sources of energy that don’t run out in the lifetime of the planet i.e. solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric etc..
Non-Renewable	A fuel that burns OR fuel source that is used up i.e. atoms that splits.
Fuel	A source of energy which can be used up i.e. petrol which is then burned to release the chemical energy
Uranium	a large atom which splits to release thermal/kinetic energy at a power station. It heats water, which turns to steam to turn a turbine and electrical generator.
Mechanism	Energy transfers take place via four mechanisms or carriers: radiation, electrical, mechanical, thermal.

Energy Stores

Energy can be stored in different ways, including:

kinetic (in a moving object)
chemical (e.g. fuel + oxygen chemical bonds)
thermal (in a warm object)
nuclear (released through radioactive decay, fission or fusion)
gravitational (due to the position of an object in a gravitational field height)
magnetic (in two separated magnets that are attracting, or repelling)
elastic (e.g. in a stretched or compressed spring)
electrostatic (in two separated electric charges that are attracting, or repelling)

Energy Mechanisms / Carriers

Energy can transfer or move from one store to another in different ways. Devices such as lamps and heaters may be involved, or processes such as combustion.

For example, energy can be transferred:

mechanically (when a force moves through a distance)
electrically (when a charge moves through a potential difference)
by heating (because of a temperature difference) thermal difference
by radiation (e.g. light, microwaves, sound)

Heating: Some objects are hotter than others. Energy is transferred from the hotter object to the cooler one, and the difference in temperature between them decreases.

Mechanical transfer: Energy can be transferred mechanically through the movement of the parts in machines, and when the motion or position of an object changes. Sound waves and seismic waves (formed during earthquakes) are mechanical waves that transfer energy through materials and from place to place.

Electrical transfer: Energy is transferred when an electrical circuit is complete. A simple circuit may consist of a battery, lamp and wires. Internal energy stored in the battery is transferred to moving charged particles in the wire.

Transfer by radiation: Visible light, infrared light, microwaves and radio waves are forms of radiation. They are carried by waves (although unlike sound, these are not mechanical waves and can travel through empty space). Electric lamps and burning fuels transfer visible and infrared light to the surroundings.

Energy 101: Electricity Generation

Animated correspondent "Little Lee Patrick Sullivan" follows electricity from its source to the light bulb in your home, explaining different fuels, thermal power generation, transmission and the grid.