Conservation of Energy
Science: KS3, topic 3.1.23
Conservation of Energy
The conservation of energy means energy cannot be created or destroyed. Energy can transfer from one store to another.
Mechanical work
- Mechanical work moves energy between objects with a force.
- When an object falls, the weight does mechanical work.
- The work moves energy from the gravitational potential store to the kinetic store.
- When you push a wheelchair, energy moves to its kinetic store.
Electrical work
- An electrical current transfers energy from one object to another.
- Example: a battery powering a torch.
Heating
- Heating an object transfers energy to its internal energy store.
- The internal energy store is made up of two stores.
- The two stores are kinetic and chemical energy in the object's particles.
Waves
- Light and other types of waves can transfer energy from one object to another.
Test yourself on Conservation of Energy
What is the name of the principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed?
What happens to energy when light travels from a lamp to a book?
A person pushes a shopping trolley across a car park using a force. What happens to the energy as the trolley speeds up?
Sunlight travels from the Sun and warms the inside of a greenhouse. What transfers the energy in this example?