Reading Science: Uses of Energy

Uses of Energy Reading

Read the slides and answer the question that follows.

How can we use different energy forms?

Mechanical energy is the energy that an object (or group of objects) has because of its motion and its position. So, mechanical energy includes both the kinetic and potential energy of an object. As different parts of the object alternate between motion and rest, energy in the object cycles between potential and kinetic.

One example of mechanical energy can be seen when a person is riding a bike. The mechanical energy of the bike helps the person travel from one place to another. Other examples include a spinning top, a moving car, or flowing water. In a world full of motion, mechanical energy is all around us!

Drag and Drop

Mechanical energy is the energy of ​

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motion

light

heat

electricity

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of mechanical energy?

• A lamp shining in the corner of a room.

• Someone riding a bicycle down the street.

• An oven baking a cake.

• Turning on a tv by plugging it into a wall outlet.

How can we use different energy forms?

Thermal energy is energy that can be felt as heat. The movement of tiny particles in matter produces heat. The faster the particles move in matter, the more thermal energy the matter has and the more heat we feel. Thermal energy is sometimes called heat energy. Using an oven to bake a cake or a fire to roast marshmallows are examples of thermal energy in action.

Drag and Drop

Thermal energy is the energy of ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

heat

light

electricity

motion

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of thermal energy?

• A lamp shining in the corner of a room.

• Someone riding a bicycle down the street.

• An oven baking a cake.

• Turning on a tv by plugging it into a wall outlet.

How can we use different energy forms?

Many household appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers need electrical energy in order to work. Electrical energy is a form of energy caused by the movement of electrons. The electrons move along a path called a circuit. Conductors are materials that allow these electrons to flow easily. Copper and aluminum wires are good conductors. You’ll learn more about circuits and conductors in a later lesson. The important thing to remember is that electrical energy is often used to generate other forms of energy.

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Electrical energy is caused by the movement of ​

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electrons

light

conductivity

heat

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of electrical energy?

• A lamp shining in the corner of a room.

• Someone riding a bicycle down the street.

• An oven baking a cake.

• Turning on a tv by plugging it into a wall outlet.

How can we use different energy forms?

Two other types of energy are light and sound energy. Light energy is energy that can travel through space. People can see some forms of light energy. To sense or detect other forms of light energy, we need special tools. Sound energy is energy that travels through matter. Sometimes we can hear sound energy. Think about a television. You can see the light energy from the screen and hear the sound energy from the speakers.

You might wonder why sound is considered a type of energy. Remember, any matter that is in motion has energy. Sound is produced when an object vibrates, and vibration is a type of motion.

Drag and Drop

Light energy can travel through ​ ​

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space

walls

matter

Drag and Drop

Sound energy can travel through ​ ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

matter

space

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of light energy?

• A lamp shining in the corner of a room.

• Someone riding a bicycle down the street.

• An oven baking a cake.

• Turning on a tv by plugging it into a wall outlet.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of sound energy?

• A lamp shining in the corner of a room.

• Someone riding a bicycle down the street.

• An oven baking a cake.

• Turning on a radio and listening to music.

Poll

All done! How confident do you feel about identifying the types of energy?

• Great!

• Okay

• Not Good