Energy Transformation
All energy on earth originally comes from the sun. Energy chains show how this energy is transferred.
Fossil fuels
Energy from the sun is used by plants in photosynthesis and stored as chemical energy. Plants are eaten by animals. Dead plants and animals gradually rot and, over millions of years, are compressed to make fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are burned, creating heat and light energy plus emissions.
Biomass in the form of wood
Energy from the sun is used by trees and plants in photosynthesis and stored as chemical energy. Wood from trees can be burned to release heat and light energy. Wind power Energy from the sun heats the atmosphere, causing winds. The wind turns turbines, which generate electricity.
Wave energy
Energy from the sun heats the atmosphere, causing winds and therefore waves. The waves drive turbines, which generate electricity.
Solar power
Energy from the sun is collected and stored in photovoltaic cells to be used as electricity. Alternately, flat-plate solar thermal collectors can be used to store the sun’s heat energy, which can be used directly, or to heat water to make steam to drive a turbine to generate electricity.
Complete the energy equations: use the following words to replace ‘energy’ in each equation. You will need to use some of them twice. chemical, elastic, electrical, heat, kinetic, light, sound
Electric fan heater:
'energy' becomes heat plus ‘energy'
Gas fire:
'energy' becomes 'energy' plus light
Wind-up walking toy:
elastic becomes 'energy'
TV:
'energy' becomes 'energy' plus light
Solar cell:
'energy' becomes 'energy'
