Vocabulary Energy
and Electricity
ENERGY
Energy — the ability to do work or cause change; can be changed into different
forms and can move between objects.
FORMS OF ENERGY:
· Chemical Energy — energy that can be
released by a chemical reaction
·
Electrical Energy — energy that comes from
an electric current
· Light Energy — energy that we can see directly.
Light energy can be:
o
Absorbed—To take up and store energy without reflecting or transmitting
that energy
o
Reflected — the bouncing of heat or
light off an object
o
Refracted — the bending of light
· Mechanical Energy—energy an object has due
to its motion or position
· Nuclear Energy—energy caused by the
splitting of atoms
· Solar Energy — energy that comes from the sun
· Sound Energy — energy in the form of vibrations that travel through a substance
o
Pitch — a measurement of how high
or low a sound is; depends on fast or slow vibration
o
Vibration – the rapid movement of an
object back and forth
·
Thermal Energy — energy caused by heat
TYPES OF ENERGY:
·
Kinetic
Energy - energy of motion
·
Potential
Energy – energy based on position or condition
ELECTRICITY
Atom—the smallest unit of an element; containing the same
properties of the element
· Neutron—a
particle within the atom (subatomic) that carries no electrical charge;
it has a neutral charge
· Proton—a
particle located in the nucleus of an atom (subatomic) that is positively
charged
· Electron-–a
particle within an atom (subatomic) that has a negative charge
Charge—a measure, can be positive or negative; force
of electro magnetic interaction.
·
Positive—an electric charge with more protons than electrons; the
opposite of a negative charge
· Negative—an electrical charge in which there is a build up of electrons;
the opposite of a positive charge
Static Electricity – electric charges that build
up or collect on an object.
Attract—to pull or draw towards
Repel—To
force or push away.
Electrical Energy —energy that comes from an
electric current
· Current —the flow of electric
charges through a material
· Circuit —a closed path that an electrical current can flow through
·
Conduct —To transmit heat or electricity through a medium.
o Conductor—materials that allow heat, electricity, or sound waves
to pass through; a substance that allows electrical charges to travel.
o Insulator—A material used to reduce
or prevent the transfer of electricity, heat, or sound.
Electromagnet — a metal object that acts as a magnet when an electric current moves
through it; giving it magnetic properties
Generator — a machine that
converts mechanical en
