Energy and force

Energy and force

Energy, where does it come from?



Some types of energy come from natural resources that can constantly be obtained from the environment. Other types of energy are not continuously available and will eventually run out; if we do not take care of these resources, one day they will be gone.

Everything we do needs energy. Driving a car, using a microwave, and taking a hot shower require energy. Where does energy come from? We use resources from nature to obtain energy. Renewable energy is the energy obtained from natural resources that are always available. This energy is mostly used to produce heat and to generate electricity.

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Some energy can be renewed

Multiple Choice

Where does renewable energy primarily come from?

¿De dónde proviene principalmente la energía renovable?

• Fossil fuels

• Natural resources

• Synthetic materials

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of renewable energy?

¿Cuál es el objetivo principal de las energías renovables?

• Electricity generation

• Transportation

• Space exploration

Hydroelectric energy comes from the movement of water in rivers and oceans. The force of water moves giant turbines that change mechanical energy into electricity.

​Water power

For hundreds of years, humans have used wind to sail ships and pump water. More recently, we have used wind energy to make blades of wind move, generating rotation. This rotation makes turbines move, generating electricity that can be stored or used in homes and businesses.

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Wind power

Solar energy is radiation in the form of waves, such as visible light, microwaves and X-rays. The sun gives off large amounts of light and thermal energy that reach the Earth every day. The energy from the sun is stored in a device called solar cell. These cell can change sunlight into electricity to be used to heat homes and water, run cars, and even provide energy to your calculator.

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​Sunlight power

Multiple Choice

What is the source of hydroelectric energy?

¿Cuál es la fuente de energía hidroeléctrica?

• Wind

• Sunlight

• Movement of water

Multiple Choice

How does wind energy primarily generate electricity?

¿Cómo genera principalmente electricidad la energía eólica?

• By absorbing sunlight

• Through rotation of turbines

• By heating water

Multiple Choice

What form of energy does solar energy primarily come in?

¿En qué forma de energía viene principalmente la energía solar?

• Thermal energy

• Mechanical energy

• Sound energy

Multiple Choice

What device is used to convert sunlight into electricity?

¿Qué dispositivo se utiliza para convertir la luz solar en electricidad?

• Solar panel

• Wind turbine

• Hydroelectric dam

Multiple Choice

How does hydroelectric energy generate electricity?

¿Cómo genera electricidad la energía hidroeléctrica?

• By converting sunlight into heat

• By moving giant turbines with water

• By harnessing the energy of wind waves

Multiple Choice

What has been the historical use of wind energy?

¿Cuál ha sido el uso histórico de la energía eólica?

• To power cars

• To pump water and sail ships

• To generate geothermal electricity

The word geothermal comes from the Greek words Geo, for Earth, and therme, for heat. So, it means heat that comes from the Earth. The core of the Earth is extremely hot; this heat radiates out through the mantle and crust and is used to power turbines and generate electricity or geothermal energy.

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​Geotermal power

Fossil fuels were formed over millions of years by dead organisms buried under heavy layers of sediment. These remains were exposed to high levels of heat and pressure, and slowly transformed into fossil fuels. Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are fossil fuels. Eventually we will run out of these resources, so we must be careful when using them!

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Fossil Fuel Power

Nuclear energy is an alternative to fossil fuels. It uses small amounts of uranium and plutonium to create a lot of energy. However these elements are limited, and once they are used up, they cannot be restored. Therefore, nuclear energy is a non-renewable resource.

​Nuclear Power

Multiple Choice

What is the primary source of geothermal energy?

¿Cuál es la fuente principal de energía geotérmica?

• Sunlight

• Earth's core

• Fossil fuels

Multiple Choice

What is a characteristic of nuclear energy?

¿Cuál es una característica de la energía nuclear?

• It is renewable

• It uses uranium and plutonium

• It comes from the Earth's mantle