{"id":1240,"date":"2017-10-30T22:57:48","date_gmt":"2017-10-31T03:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/?p=1240"},"modified":"2018-02-09T18:02:29","modified_gmt":"2018-02-10T00:02:29","slug":"introduction-power-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/introduction-power-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction to Power and Energy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI\u2019m out of energy. I need to recharge.\u201d <\/em>We\u2019ve all used that phrase before. At the end of a long day, we get tired and need sleep.<\/p>\n

But what is<\/em> energy? <\/u><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Energy is the ability to do work<\/em>. It allows us to throw a baseball, carry groceries, and have a warm house even when it\u2019s cold outside.<\/p>\n

There are two types of energy: Potential and kinetic.<\/p>\n

Potential energy<\/strong> is \u201cstored\u201d energy<\/em>. It\u2019s the energy waiting around to be put to work.<\/p>\n

Kinetic energy<\/strong> is the \u201cworking\u201d energy<\/em>. It\u2019s in motion getting used up.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an easy example:<\/em><\/strong> Picture a big rock at the top of a hill. When it\u2019s sitting at the top of the hill, unmoving, it has potential energy. <\/em>It has the potential to roll down the hill. When it does roll down the hill, it\u2019s in motion. It\u2019s using kinetic energy<\/em>. As it rolls down the hill, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>So\u2026how does energy get made?<\/u><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be converted from one form to another. <\/em><\/p>\n

The energy that allows us to use appliances and lights in our homes comes from electricity<\/strong>, which is made in power plants.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/em><\/strong> To demonstrate how much electricity people use on a daily basis, ask your child to think about all the appliances in the house, and how often they use them. How many appliances are there? How many light switches are in the house? This is a tangible way to show how much electricity (and energy!) we use on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

Electricity comes from two main sources: Nonrenewable and renewable energy.<\/p>\n

Most of the energy we use comes from nonrenewable energy <\/strong>sources. Nonrenewable means that we cannot use the energy over and over. Once we use it, it\u2019s gone forever.<\/p>\n

The way nonrenewable energy is gathered can be bad for the environment. Most nonrenewable energy sources are called \u201cfossil fuels.\u201d<\/strong> They are called this because they formed over millions of years.<\/p>\n

Fossil fuels are coal<\/strong>, oil<\/strong>, and natural gas<\/strong>. Fossil fuels are burned in a power plant. At the power plant, steam is created from heat and water. The steam turns the turbine in a generator. This produces electricity.<\/p>\n

The other type of nonrenewable energy is nuclear energy<\/strong>. Nuclear energy uses uranium atoms to power generators.<\/p>\n

Some energy we use also comes from renewable energy<\/strong> sources. Renewable energy sources are:<\/p>\n