Energy & Power
Energy and type of Energy
What is Energy?
Energy is the capacity to do work.
It makes objects move, lights glow, machines run, and life possible.
SI Unit: Joule (J).
Type of Energy:
Kinetic Energy – energy of motion , Potential Energy – stored energy
Mechanical Energy – kinetic + potential , Thermal Energy – heat
Chemical Energy – in food & fuel , Electrical Energy – flow of charge
Electromagnetic Energy – light, waves , Nuclear Energy – from atom’s nucleus
Work
Work is the energy transferred to or from a system by a force that acts on it.
Units of work: Joule
In physics, work represents a measurable change in a system, caused by a force.
Kinetic Energy
Mechanical energy is the energy which is possessed by an object due to its motion or
its stored energy of position
◦ Kinetic energy : is the energy of motion
◦ Potential Energy : an object can store energy as the result of its position or
elastic source
Formula:
Kinetic Energy
Here’s the graph of Kinetic Energy vs Velocity.
It shows that as velocity increases, kinetic energy grows quadratically (parabolic curve).
For example:
•At v=2v=2v=2, KE=2KE=2KE=2 J
•At v=4v=4v=4, KE=8KE=8KE=8 J (quadrupled)
•At v=6v=6v=6, KE=18KE=18KE=18 J (9 times bigger than at v=2v=2v=2)
Conclusion: Kinetic energy is proportional to the square of
velocity.
Potential Energy
Potential Energy (PE) is the stored energy an object has because of its position or
configuration.
Formu
la:
Potential Energy : Types
Gravitational Potential Energy
Due to height/position in a gravitational field.
Formula: PE=mgh
Elastic Potential Energy
Stored in stretched or compressed objects (spring, rubber band).
Formula: PE=1/2 Kx2
Chemical Potential Energy
Stored in chemical bonds (fuels, food, batteries).
Nuclear Potential Energy
Stored in the nucleus of atoms, released during fission/fusion.
Thermal Energy
Thermal Energy is the energy of particles (atoms & molecules) in motion
inside a substance.
•It is related to temperature — higher temperature = faster particle motion.
•It transfers as heat from hotter objects to colder ones.
•Example: Boiling water, fire, hot coffee all have thermal energy.
Chemical Energy
Chemical Energy is the stored energy in the bonds of atoms and molecules.
•Released or absorbed during chemical reactions.
•Found in fuels, food, batteries, explosives.
•Converts to other forms like heat, light, or electrical energy.
Example: Petrol burning in a car engine → chemical energy → mechanical + heat.
Electromagnetic Energy
Electromagnetic Energy is the energy carried by electromagnetic waves (light,
radio waves, X-rays, microwaves, etc.).
•It travels at the speed of light in space.
•Includes visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, radio waves, microwaves, X-rays,
gamma rays.
•Can travel without a medium (through vacuum).
Example: Sunlight reaching Earth is electromagnetic energy.
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Energy is the energy stored in the nucleus of atoms.
•Released during nuclear fission (splitting of heavy nuclei, e.g., uranium) or nuclear
fusion (joining of light nuclei, e.g., hydrogen in the sun).
•Produces a huge amount of energy compared to chemical reactions.
•Used in nuclear power plants and atomic weapons.
Example: The Sun’s energy comes from nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms.
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Energy is the energy stored in the nucleus of atoms.
•Released during nuclear fission (splitting of heavy nuclei, e.g., uranium) or nuclear
fusion (joining of light nuclei, e.g., hydrogen in the sun).
•Produces a huge amount of energy compared to chemical reactions.
•Used in nuclear power plants and atomic weapons.
Example: The Sun’s energy comes from nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms.
Energy Conversion & Conservation
Energy Conversion:
•Process of changing energy from one form to
another.
•Example: Chemical energy in fuel → heat energy
→ mechanical energy in an engine.
Law of Conservation of Energy:
•Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only
converted from one form to another.
•Total energy in an isolated system always remains
constant.
Example: A pendulum converts potential ↔ kinetic
energy, but the total stays the same.
Einstein’s Law of Relativity
Einstein’s Law of Relativity mainly refers to the Theory of Relativity, which
has two parts:
1. Special Relativity (1905):
o Laws of physics are the same in all inertial (non-accelerating) frames.
o Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.
o Famous equation:
E=mc2
(Energy and mass are interchangeable).
2. General Relativity (1915):
o Explains gravity as the curvature of space-time caused by mass and
energy.
o Predicts phenomena like black holes, gravitational waves, and time
dilation near massive objects.
Example: GPS satellites need corrections from relativity for accurate positioning.
Power
Power is the rate of doing work or SI Unit: Watt
transferring energy. (W)
(1 W = 1Units:
Bigger J/s)
Formula:
1 kilowatt (kW) = 103 W
1 megawatt (MW) = 106 W
1 horsepower (hp) ≈ 746 W
Power : Mathematical Problems
A person does 900 J of work in 30 s. Find the power
Solution
P = W/t = 900 / 30 = 30 W
A 60 W bulb runs for 3 hours. (a) Energy in joules (b) in kWh.
Solution
(a) E = P t = 60 × (3×3600) = 648,000 J
(b) E = 60 W × 3 h = 0.18 kWh
A constant force of 200 N pulls a sled at a steady speed of 5 m/s. Find the power
delivered
Solution
P = F v = 200 × 5 = 1000 W = 1.0 kW
Matter is Energy ... Energy is Light ... We are all Light Beings
Albert Einstei
n
Thank you…
