CES 202
Energy and the Environment
Basic Energy Concepts
Energy
Capacity of a
physical system to
perform work
Basic Energy Concepts
Energy is conserved
the amount of energy that
goes into a systems is
equal to the amount of
energy that exit that
system
The law of conservation of
Energy states that “energy
cannot be created or
destroy”
So the energy of a system
remains in equilibrium
Basic Energy Concepts
Energy exists in many form
Can look at three areas that energy exists
1) Function of motion (kinetic)
i.e. a mass of object at a given velocity has
energy of motion
E.g. a bus moving, or the movement of
particles in a hot metal rod
Basic Energy Concepts
2) Energy of an object due to the position
within a field
E.g. gravitational field, magnetic field or
electrical field
The earth has a gravitational field, based on
where an object is within this field, it possesses
varying amounts of gravitational potential
energy
E.g. lifting a stone one meter off the ground,
the stone gains or loses energy based on its
relative position off the ground
Basic Energy Concepts
3) Internal Energy: Energy due to the
object's internal composition and state, which
includes:
Thermal Energy: Due to the motion and
vibrations of atoms and molecules within the
object.
Chemical Energy: Stored in chemical bonds
between atoms and molecules, released in
reactions.
Nuclear Energy: Stored in the nucleus of
atoms, released in nuclear reactions (fission
Basic Energy Concepts
Energy can be transferred from place to
place and is moved in a number of ways
example
Energy moved by:
sound – vibration waves
Light – photon energy transmitted by the UV
Spectrum
Electric current – the flow of electron along a
path
Basic Energy Concepts:
Kinetic and Potential energy
Kinetic Energy Potential Energy
Energy found as a function Position within a field
of motion Often defined a stored energy
The energy of objects that of an object relative to its
have mass and velocity position
Equated as ½ mv2 E.g.
m = mass an object elevated would have
V = velocity gravitational potential energy
The larger the object the Equated as
greater the kinetic energy it
PE = mass (kg) x gravitational
potential (9.8m/s2 ) x m
can possess A switch that is turned off has
The faster the object is electrical potential energy
moving the more energy it
posses
Basic Energy Concept
Energy may exist in many different forms but
can be place in the categories as:
Potential
Stored energy, available for work at a later time e.g.
a rock at the top of a hill
Chemical energy stored in food, or gasoline you put
in your car
Kinetic
Energy in motion, or that which is contained in
moving objects
E.g. moving car, flowing water, rocking tree
Basic Energy Concepts
Other forms
Mechanical
Chemical
Electrical
Radiant
Thermal
Acoustic
Gravitational
Basic Energy Concepts
Unit of measure:
Joule (J):
used by the IS (SI unit)
Expressed as
J = (m/s2)
Amount of energy needed to raise the temp of
cool dry air by 1oC
Amount of energy require to lift a small apple
1m against earth’s gravity
Basic Energy
Concepts
•Unit of Measure
•Watt: (law that shows
relationship between P,I, V)
•Unit of power (measures the
rate at which work is done)
•To understand how the relate
take the analogy of a plumbing
system
•V voltage
•I Current
•R Resistant
Basic Energy Concepts