ES 2.3 LESSON What is Energy?

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Environmental Science, 1e
SUSTAINING YOUR WORLD
G. TYLER MILLER | SCOTT E. SPOOLMAN

2

Science, Matter, Energy, and

Systems

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• Energy is the capacity to do work.

– Kinetic energy (associated with motion):

• Examples: flowing water, speeding car, electricity, wind

• Thermal energy (heat): total kinetic energy of all the

moving atoms, ions, or molecules in a sample of
matter, measured as temperature

• Electromagnetic radiation: wave energy resulting from

changes in electrical/magnetic fields; includes solar
energy, which fuels life on Earth

– Potential energy (stored energy):

• Can be converted to kinetic energy

2.3 What Is Energy?

Match

Match the following

• Kinetic Energy

• Thermal Energy

• Electromagnetic Radiation

• Potential Energy

Energy of Motion

Energy from Motion of Particles

Wave Energy

Stored Energy

• Energy of Motion

• Energy from Motion of Particles

• Wave Energy

• Stored Energy

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Electromagnetic Radiation

Drag and Drop

​

Placeholder

wavelengths, like gamma rays, have ​

Placeholder

energy

​

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wavelengths, like radio waves, have ​

Placeholder

energy

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

shorter

more

longer

less

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• High-quality, or concentrated energy, has a high capacity to do useful work.

– Examples: high-temperature thermal energy, concentrated sunlight,

high-speed wind, energy released from burning fuels)

• Low-quality, or dispersed energy, has little capacity to do

useful work.

Energy Quality

Categorize

Options (5)

High Temperatures

Low Temperatures

Fast winds

Slow winds

Burning Fossil Fuels

Organize these options into the right categories

High Quality Energy

Low Quality Energy

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• First law of thermodynamics (law of conservation of energy)

– Whenever energy is converted from one form to another in a

physical or chemical change, no energy is created or destroyed.

• Second law of thermodynamics

– When energy is changed from one form to another, it always

results in less high-quality energy.

Energy Changes Are Governed By Two Scientific Laws

Drag and Drop

Law of conservation of ​

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: Whenever energy is ​

Placeholder

from one form to another in a physical or ​

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change, no energy is created or ​

Placeholder

.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

converted

chemical

destroyed

energy