Energy and Its Transformations

Energy and Its Transformations

Middle School

​

Learning Objectives

• Define energy and the Law of Conservation of Energy.

• Explain the concept of energy transformation and provide examples.

• Differentiate between potential energy and kinetic energy.

• Analyze how energy changes form in everyday systems.

Key Vocabulary

​

Energy

The ability of a system or object to perform work or to cause a change to occur.

​

Energy Transformation

The process of changing energy from one of its forms into another, such as in a lamp.

​

Kinetic Energy

The form of energy that an object possesses because of its motion.

​

Potential Energy

Stored energy that an object has because of its position, state, or internal arrangement of parts.

​

Law of Conservation

This fundamental principle states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change from one form to another.

​

Photosynthesis

The process where plants use light energy to convert it into stored chemical energy for food.

​

​

What is Energy and its Governing Law?

What is Energy?

• ​Energy is the ability to do work, which means making things move or cause change.

• ​​It exists in many different forms, such as thermal, chemical, and mechanical energy.

• ​The total energy in a system determines its capacity to bring about physical changes.

Conservation of Energy

• ​This fundamental law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

• ​​Energy can only be transformed from one form into another or transferred between objects.

• ​Therefore, the total amount of energy in an isolated system always remains constant.

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of energy?

• The ability to do work or cause change

• A substance that can be seen and touched

• The force that pulls objects downward

• The amount of matter in an object

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the law of conservation of energy?

• Energy can only be used for making things move.

• Some forms of energy are more useful than others.

• Energy is a resource that can be used up and destroyed.

• The total amount of energy in a closed system always stays the same.

Multiple Choice

A lamp is plugged into a wall outlet and switched on, producing light and heat. Which statement best explains this process in terms of energy?

• The process destroys the electrical energy, causing light to appear.

• The total amount of energy decreases as the lamp continues to run.

• The lamp creates new energy, which is then released as light and heat.

• Electrical energy is transformed into light and thermal energy.

​

​

What is Energy Transformation?

• Energy transformation is changing energy from one form to another.

• A lamp turns electrical energy into light and thermal energy (heat).

• Photosynthesis in plants converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy.

• Your body changes food’s chemical energy into kinetic and thermal energy.

​

Multiple Choice

What is energy transformation?

• The measurement of heat in a system

• The storage of energy for later use

• The change of energy from one form to another

• The process of creating new energy

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the energy changes that occur when a plant performs photosynthesis?

• Chemical energy is converted into kinetic energy.

• Light energy is converted into chemical energy.

• Kinetic energy is converted into light energy.

• Electrical energy is converted into thermal energy.

Multiple Choice

A person eats food, and then their body uses that energy to move and maintain its temperature. Which statement best explains this entire process as a series of energy transformations?

• Kinetic energy is converted into chemical energy and then into thermal energy.

• Electrical energy is converted into kinetic energy to make the body move.

• Thermal energy from the body is converted into chemical energy in food.

• Chemical energy from food is converted into kinetic and thermal energy.

​

​

Types of Energy: Potential and Kinetic

Potential Energy

Kinetic Energy

Multiple Choice

What is the main difference between potential and kinetic energy?

• Potential energy depends on an object's velocity, while kinetic energy depends on its height.

• Both energy types are identical and can be used interchangeably.

• Potential energy is the energy of motion, while kinetic energy is stored energy based on position.

• Potential energy is stored energy based on position, while kinetic energy is the energy of motion.

Multiple Choice

What energy change occurs when a skateboarder moves down a ramp?

• New energy is created from the motion.

• The total energy reduces to zero as the skateboarder stops.

• Kinetic energy is converted into potential energy.

• Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.

Multiple Choice

A heavy bowling ball and a light tennis ball are sitting at the top of the same tall bookshelf. Which statement accurately compares their energy?

• Neither ball has any potential energy until it starts to fall.

• The bowling ball has more potential energy because it has more mass.

• The tennis ball has more potential energy because it is smaller.

• They both have the same potential energy because they are at the same height.

​

Common Misconceptions

Misconception	Correction
Energy can be created or destroyed.	Energy only changes form; the total amount is constant.
Energy is "lost" during transformations.	Energy converts to less useful forms, like heat, but is not lost.
An object at rest has zero energy.	An object at rest can have potential energy.

​

Summary

Poll

On a scale of 1-4, how confident are you about explaining energy transformations?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4