What is Energy?
Energy is something we cannot see, but we can see its effects — like movement, heat,
or light. All living things need energy to survive, grow, and move.
Question t: Why is there less energy available at the poles?
The poles receive much less sunlight because the Sun’s rays hit them at a slanted angle.
This means:
● Less solar energy reaches the surface.
● Temperatures are colder.
● Less plant and animal life can grow.
So, the poles have the least available energy because they get the least sunlight.
Question q: What is the source of the oxygen used in the rocket fuel?
Rocket fuel uses hydrogen and oxygen.
Hydrogen comes from fossil fuels, but the oxygen used in space shuttles is obtained by:
Electrolysis of water
Electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gas.
So, the source of the oxygen is water, broken down using energy.
Question p: What impacts could Strandbeests have on the environment? Can the
idea be used in other countries?
Possible impacts:
● Forming sand dunes that protect coasts from erosion and rising sea levels.
● Improving coastal stability.
● Spreading seeds or disturbing sand, which may change habitats.
● Acting as a tool for environmental engineering.
Can this strategy be used elsewhere?
Yes — any country with sandy, windy coastlines could benefit.
Countries with erosion problems could use these wind-powered “animals” to:
● Build dunes
● Slow erosion
● Protect coastal communities
Question p (Hallucigenia): How did it obtain chemical energy, and how do animals
still get chemical energy today?
How Hallucigenia obtained energy:
Hallucigenia lived 500 million years ago and obtained chemical energy by eating
(ingesting organic molecules).
It got energy from:
● Smaller organisms
● Dead organic matter
● Chemicals in its environment
How animals today still get energy:
Animals eat food → food contains chemical energy stored in molecules like glucose.
Through respiration, animals release this energy for:
● Movement
● Growth
● Repair
Animals continue to obtain energy because the food chain constantly recycles energy
from the Sun → plants → animals.
Introduction to Energy
Energy is what makes things happen.
In science (physics), we say:
Energy is the capacity (ability) to do work.
This means:
● Energy cannot be created.
● Energy cannot be destroyed.
● It can only be changed from one form to another or passed from one object to
another.
This is why energy is connected to the key concept of change — whenever something
changes, energy is involved.
Where do we get energy from?
Humans and animals
They get energy from food.
Industries, transport, homes
They get energy from:
● Oil
● Gas
● Electricity
● Renewable sources (wind, solar, hydro, etc.)
Because fossil fuels are running out and cause pollution, the world must think carefully
about sustainability — how to get energy without harming the planet.
Question: Can crops like rapeseed solve future energy problems?
Rapeseed gives:
● Vegetable oil for cooking
● Biodiesel (a renewable fuel)
● Protein-rich animal feed
Growing such crops can help, but:
● They require large amounts of land
● They may compete with food crops
● They may reduce biodiversity
So they can be part of the solution, but not the only solution.
Energy in All Living Things
Every aspect of life depends on energy:
1. Kinetic Energy (Energy of Movement)
Any moving object has kinetic energy, for example:
● A falcon diving
● Pollen grains blown by the wind
● Blood flowing in arteries
2. Potential Energy (Stored Energy)
This energy exists because of position, shape, or chemical bonds.
Examples:
● Chemical energy in molecules
● Electrochemical energy when neurons send signals
● Elastic energy when tissues stretch and return to shape
3. Radiant Energy (Light and Other Waves)
Plants use light energy (a type of radiant energy) for photosynthesis.
Other radiant energies include:
● Gamma rays
● Microwaves
● Radio waves
4. Thermal Energy (Heat Energy)
Everything is made of tiny particles that are always moving.
Faster movement → higher temperature → more thermal energy.
Heat always moves from hot to cold.
In ecosystems, energy is eventually lost as heat.
Energy Transformations
Energy often changes form.
In biology:
Energy Change Example
Light → Chemical Photosynthesis
Chemical → Light Bioluminescence in fireflies
You can expand the table by adding more examples:
● Chemical → Kinetic: muscles contracting
● Chemical → Thermal: shivering
● Chemical → Electrical: nerve impulses
● Radiant → Thermal: sunlight warming the skin
● Kinetic → Sound: vocal cords vibrating
● Kinetic → Potential: lifting an object
Question: What energy is needed to split firewood? What is the source of this
energy?
What energy is needed?
Splitting wood requires mechanical (kinetic) energy — the movement of the axe.
Where does this energy come from?
From:
● Muscles, which use chemical energy from food
● Or a machine, which uses fuel or electricity
Firewood as a source of energy
Firewood contains chemical energy stored in the bonds of molecules formed during
photosynthesis.
When wood burns:
● Chemical energy → heat + light
This is why firewood is used for cooking and heating.
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How Do Plants Obtain Energy?
Plants need energy to grow, live, and carry out all their functions.
Unlike animals, plants do not eat food — instead, they make their own food using light
energy from the Sun.
✔ Plants absorb sunlight
We see:
● Plants grow towards light
● Plants grow poorly in darkness
● Trees create shade, meaning leaves block sunlight
This tells us that plants absorb light and use it.
✔ Plants convert light into chemical energy
Inside leaf cells, light energy is converted into chemical energy during photosynthesis.
This chemical energy is stored in:
● Glucose (sugar made by the plant)
● Starch (long-term storage form of glucose)
Experiment: Evidence That Plants Convert Light Energy Into Chemical Energy
We can test the idea using pondweed like Elodea or Cabomba.
Hypothesis:
Plants produce oxygen when they convert light energy into chemical energy
(photosynthesis).
Materials:
● Pondweed (Elodea / Cabomba)
● Transparent container
● Water
Method:
1. Fill the container with water.
2. Place the pondweed upside down.
3. Cut the end of the stem so fresh cells are exposed.
Observation:
Bubbles rise from the cut end — this gas is oxygen.
Further investigation ideas:
1. Test the gas – collect the bubbles and confirm they are oxygen.
2. Test the need for light – cover the plant or put in darkness; the bubbles will stop.
3. Test different light intensities – more light → faster bubbling → more
photosynthesis.
Extension Experiment: Effect of Water Types on Photosynthesis
Try measuring bubble rate in:
a) Tap water
b) Boiled and cooled water (contains no dissolved gases)
c) Sparkling water (high CO₂ content)
Before starting:
➡ Write a hypothesis (prediction), for example:
“Sparkling water will produce more bubbles because it contains more carbon dioxide.”
After doing the experiment, compare results with your hypothesis.
Critical Thinking
You may find surprising results.
If results disagree with your prediction, this means your understanding must be updated
— that is how science works.