Classification of energy

Various forms of energy can be categorized according to energy sources such as geothermal energy,
solar energy, wind energy, or stores such as potential energy and kinetic energy. Several forms of energy
are categorized according to how they perform their tasks, such as mechanical energy. Let's take a
closer look at the prominent forms of energy. Potential energy: Potential energy comes from the work
done on forces. The work done by force is stored as potential energy. Springs store potential energy
when compressed or stretched by applying force. Apply force to lift the object. The work we do is
stored in the raised object as potential energy. An example of potential energy is a ball at a specific
height. There is gravitational potential. Potential energy can be converted into other forms. Potential
energy is of many types, as mentioned below:

Chemical energy:

The chemical energy is the stored energy of the bonds between atoms and molecules of an object.
When these bonds break, chemical energy is released, like in an electric cell. In it, chemical energy is
released to produce current.

The chemical energy of the bonds depends on the type of bond between the atoms and molecules. The
energy of petroleum, biomass and natural gas consists of the chemical energy released when it burns to
generate heat.

Mechanical energy:

Mechanical energy is stored energy that can be classified into two categories: (1) potential energy and
(2) kinetic energy. A moving object has kinetic energy. When the pendulum swings, the total mechanical
energy becomes constant. When the pendulum moves, potential energy is converted to kinetic energy
and vice versa, keeping total mechanical energy constant.

Nuclear Energy: The energy that brings together various particles within the nucleus of a

atom is known as nuclear energy. It is stored in the nucleus. When such a nucleus breaks, a large
amount of atomic energy, such as an atomic bomb, is converted into various forms of energy. Fusion
reactors and fission reactors are based on nuclear energy. In these reactors, the emission of nuclear
energy is controlled only slowly.

Gravitational energy:

According to Newton`s law of universal gravitation, everybody having mass attracts every other body
with a force that is directly depends on the product of masses of the bodies and inversely related to the
square of the distance between centers of the bodies. So, every object on the earth is attracted by a
force that is called the gravitational force of gravity.

The gravitational energy is the energy that arises when work is done by gravitational force. On an object
of mass m, force by the Earth is mg, and if it is lifted by height h, where the work done by the
gravitational force is represented as mgh.

So, the gravitational energy of the object lifted = mgh.

Kinetic energy: The energy that the

system has from its motion is called kinetic energy. Electrical and sound energy is the energy produced
by the movement of electrons and sound waves. The various types of kinetic energy are shown below.

Radiant energy:

Radiant energy is the energy of electromagnetic radiation propagating in the form of shear waves.
Visible light is a form of radiant energy. The warmth you feel when sitting near a hot object is a type of
invisible radiant energy. X-rays used in medical diagnostics are an example of radiant energy. The
microwave oven used in the microwave oven in our kitchen is radiant energy. The infrared rays that the
remote control uses to turn the TV on and off are radiant energy. All of these radiant energies are
equivalent because they all propagate in space in the form of waves at the same velocity. However, they
also tend to be different because they can hold different amounts of energy. The higher the frequency
of the wave, the higher the energy.

Electrical Energy:

Electrical energy is produced by the restricted movement of electrons in matter. Electrons are
negatively charged particles. Electrons travel in a closed path from the negative electrode to the positive
electrode of the cell. The flow of electric current is called electric current and causes electrical energy.
Lighting and light bulbs are examples of electrical energy. Electrical energy is mainly obtained from the
kinetic energy of moving electrons.

Kinetic energy:

Kinetic energy is the energy produced by the movement of an object from one place to another. Wind
energy and tidal energy are examples of kinetic energy. There are different types of kinetic energy.

Wind energy: Wind energy is the energy generated by the movement of the wind. Electricity is
produced by wind turbines. High-speed wind hits the wind turbine and conveys its momentum to the
wind turbine. Turbine blades begin to rotate and the rotational energy of the turbine is converted into
electrical energy with the help of magnets.

Hydro: The energy contained in sea water, waves and tides is known as hydropower. The kinetic energy
of the moving wave is used as an energy source.

Sound energy:

This is the energy from the movement of sound waves that pass through the medium in the form of
longitudinal waves. It is in the air in the form of longitudinal waves. Longitudinal waves are waves that
propagate alternately in the form of compression and thinning as they pass through the medium.

Thermal Energy: Also known as

heat. The thermal energy of an object measures the heat or coldness of the object. Thermal energy is
generated by the vibration of atoms in a substance. Examples of thermal energy are geothermal and
hot springs.