Types of Energy Stations

2023 AEP Science - Physics

NAME: _________________________________
 Background Information
Kinetic vs Potential Energy
Kinetic Energy: This is the energy of things that are moving. Imagine a ball rolling down a
hill or a car speeding on the road. The faster they go or the heavier they are, the more
kinetic energy they have.

Potential Energy: This is the stored energy of things that are not moving but have the
potential (possibility) to move. Think of a stretched rubber band or a book on a high shelf.
They have potential energy because they can do something, like snap back or fall down, if
you let them. The higher something is or the heavier it is, the more potential energy it
usually has.

Law of Conservation of Energy

The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an
isolated system; instead, it can only change from one form to another or transfer between
objects, with the total amount of energy remaining constant.
Energy Transfer vs Transformation
Energy transfer involves the movement of energy from one object or system to another
without changing its form.

Energy transformation is the process of changing energy from one form to another, such as
from kinetic to thermal energy.

Energy Flow Diagrams

Energy flow diagrams are a way to show how
energy moves through a system or a process.
They use arrows and labels to represent
different forms of energy and how they change
or transfer within that system.

Energy Sources: Energy flow diagrams often start with energy sources, like the Sun, a
power plant, or a battery. These sources provide the initial energy input to the system.

Arrows: Arrows in the diagram show the direction in which energy is moving. They connect
different components or stages of the system.

Boxes or Shapes: These represent different parts or components of the system. Each box or
shape is labelled to indicate what's happening there. For example, a box might represent a
machine, a process, or a device.

Types of Energy: Labels on the arrows and inside the boxes specify the type of energy
involved. This could be kinetic energy (energy of motion), potential energy (stored energy),
thermal energy (heat), electrical energy, or other forms.

Energy Transformation: The flow diagram illustrates how energy transforms from one form
to another as it moves through the system. For instance, electrical energy might be
transformed into mechanical energy in a motor.

Energy Output: The final part of the diagram shows where the energy goes or what it's
used for. This could be the motion of a vehicle, the light from a bulb, or the heat produced
by a furnace.
 ENERGY STATION 1: Thermal / Heat Energy

Aaron, Chris, Owen, Mia

Thermal/Heat Energy:
This is the energy we feel as warmth or heat. It comes from hot objects and makes things
get warmer.

Thermal energy is categorised as:

Kinetic (moving) energy Potential (stored) energy

Example of energy flow diagram that includes thermal energy:

 Thermal Energy Review Questions
Question 1: Can you think of three real-life applications where thermal energy is used?
(3 marks)

Question 2: Using your results from the experiment, determine whether thermal energy
could be used to lift a plane.
(4 marks)

Learning Reflection

State one thing you have

learnt about this energy
type from engaging in
this station.

State one thing you have

learnt about effective
communication from
engaging in this station.
 ENERGY STATION 2: Chemical Energy

Elijah, Harrison, Sophie, Charlotte

Chemical Energy:
It's the energy stored in things like food and fuel. When we burn them or eat them, we get
energy to move and do things.

Chemical energy is categorised as:

Kinetic (moving) energy Potential (stored) energy

Example of energy flow diagram that includes chemical

energy:
 Chemical Energy Review Questions
Question 1: How does this experiment display an example of chemical energy? (2 marks)

Question 2: How can lemon batteries be used in developing countries?

(3 marks)

Learning Reflection

State one thing you have

learnt about this energy
type from engaging in
this station.

State one thing you have

learnt about effective
communication from
engaging in this station.
 ENERGY STATION 3: Sound Energy

Kanav, Alec, Minke, Marko

Sound Energy:
It's what makes sounds when something vibrates, like a ringing bell or your voice. It travels
through the air as waves.

Sound energy is categorised as:

Kinetic (moving) energy Potential (stored) energy

Example of energy flow diagram that includes sound energy:

 Review Questions
Question 1: Why is sound produced when an object vibrates? (2 marks)

Question 2: Ruth, a Year 8 student believes that sound is produced in a vacuum (a place
with no air and no particles like outer space)? Is his reasoning correct? Explain why or why
not.
(4 marks)

Learning Reflection

State one thing you have

learnt about this energy
type from engaging in
this station.

State one thing you have

learnt about effective
communication from
engaging in this station.
 ENERGY STATION 4: Elastic Energy

Zoe, Nic, Daniel, Alex

Elastic Energy:
When you stretch or squish something, like a rubber band or a spring, it stores energy.
When you let go, that energy turns into movement.

Elastic energy is categorised as:

Kinetic (moving) energy Potential (stored) energy

Example of energy flow diagram that includes elastic energy:

Stretched elastic band

(elastic potential energy)

Released elastic band
(kinetic energy + heat energy)
 Review Questions
Question 1: “Energy cannot be created nor destroyed but it can be changed and
transformed”. Some examples of transformation include:
 Kinetic energy  sound energy
 Elastic potential energy  kinetic energy
 Kinetic energy  chemical energy
 Light energy  heat energy
 Electric energy  heat energy

Looking at this statement and the energy flow option shown previously, identify which two
transformations we can see when the balloon deflates. (2 marks)

Question 2: What other energy types can you observe during this transformation
experiment? HINT – there is more than one.
(3 marks)

Learning Reflection

State one thing you have

learnt about this energy
type from engaging in
this station.

State one thing you have

learnt about effective
communication from
engaging in this station.
 ENERGY STATION 5: Light Energy

Zayan, Asha, Marti, Hayden

Light Energy:
This is the energy that comes from light sources like the Sun or a flashlight. It helps us see
things and can be used for photosynthesis in plants.

Light energy is categorised as:

Kinetic (moving) energy Potential (stored) energy

Example of energy flow diagram that includes light energy:

 Review Questions
Question 1: Explain, in your own words, why the rainbow was formed when the flashlight
was positioned correctly around the glass. (2 marks)

Question 2: How does the dispersion of light contribute to the formation of a rainbow?

IN OTHER WORDS: Why do raindrops make colours in the sky when the sun shines through
them?
(3 marks)

Learning Reflection

State one thing you have

learnt about this energy
type from engaging in
this station.

State one thing you have

learnt about effective
communication from
engaging in this station.
 ENERGY STATION 6: Gravitational Energy

Kartik, Mika, Rajvi, Aydin

Gravitational Energy:
It's the energy that objects have because of their position in a gravitational field, like when
you lift something heavy up high.

Gravitational energy is categorised as:

Kinetic (moving) energy Potential (stored) energy

Example of energy flow diagram that includes gravitational

energy:
 Review Questions
Question 1: What two types of energy does gravitational potential energy become?
(2 marks)

Question 2: What is the GPE of an object 10 metres from the Earth, with a mass of 15
kilograms and a gravitational constant of 9.81m/s²?
(3 marks)

Learning Reflection

State one thing you have

learnt about this energy
type from engaging in
this station.

State one thing you have

learnt about effective
communication from
engaging in this station.
 ENERGY STATION 7: Electrical Energy

Kimmy, Daisy, Nikki, Arnie

Electrical Energy:
This is the energy that flows through wires and powers our devices, like phones and lights.
It's created when electrons move.

Electrical energy is categorised as:

Kinetic (moving) energy Potential (stored) energy

Example of energy flow diagram that includes electrical

energy:
 Review Questions
Question 1: Why is electrical energy a type of kinetic energy? How can it change into
potential energy?

(2 marks)

Question 2: How does electrical energy produce light in the lamp?

(2 marks)

Learning Reflection

State one thing you have

learnt about this energy
type from engaging in
this station.

State one thing you have

learnt about effective
communication from
engaging in this station.
 ENERGY STATION 8: Nuclear Energy

Adlyne, Tanisha, Klara

Nuclear Energy:
It's the energy stored in the tiny particles inside an atom's nucleus. When those particles
split or come together, they release a lot of energy, which is used in nuclear power plants.

Nuclear energy is categorised as:

Kinetic (moving) energy Potential (stored) energy

Example of energy flow diagram that includes nuclear energy:

 Review Questions
Question 1: How is nuclear energy generated?
(2 marks)

Question 2: What is produced after a nuclear explosion and why is it harmful?

(2 marks)

Learning Reflection

State one thing you have

learnt about this energy
type from engaging in
this station.

State one thing you have

learnt about effective
communication from
engaging in this station.
 Self-Evaluation of Own Station

Now that your have completed all the stations – reflect on

your own station and answer the following questions:

Did your station clearly describe your allocated energy type? YES NO

Did your activity effectively show or explain your energy type? YES NO

Did your station describe the transfer or transformation of your

YES NO
energy type in line with the law of conservation of energy?

Did your station accurately show a simple energy flow diagram

YES NO
involving your allocated energy type?

Did the questions you provided successfully help others to

YES NO
understand your energy type?

Complete the PMI about your own energy station:

P M I
Plus / Positives Minus / Mistakes Improvements