Energy provides everything we use in day-to-day life, the ability to function properly.There are various forms of energy; human beings utilize them by changing one form of energy into another. Energy sources can be divided into two categories of renewable and non-renewable sources.Energy is the driving force behind all that you see. From laptops to nuclear power plants, all require some form of energy or another. You can understand how energy changes from one form to another with a simple example. When you eat food, you store chemical energy in your body that gets changed into kinetic energy when you engage in some activity like playing and running. Energy can broadly be classified into renewable energy and non-renewable energy based on its source. Renewable energy includes solar energy, geothermal energy, and wind energy among others. Non-renewable sources of energy consist of natural gas, coal, and oil, all of which come from burning fossil fuels.Electricity also requires energy to power up various devices that you use daily like tablets and mobile phones. Keep reading below for fun and unknown energy facts.If you found this article interesting, why not also read about facts about coral reefs and facts about the heart?What is energy and how does it work?The capability of an object to carry out work is called energy. Whenever an external force is moving an object, a transfer of energy takes place. This is known as work. An important fact to note is that you cannot touch energy, it has to be understood. There are two primary forms of energy, which are potential energy and kinetic energy. Both can be converted to one another.An important point to remember is that you can neither create energy nor destroy it. You can only change it from one form to another. Take, for example, the working of an electric bulb. When you switch on bulbs, electricity changes into heat and light energy. No loss of energy takes place during this transfer. We cannot live without energy. The solar energy emitted by the sun and the chemical energy you get from eating food, are essential for life. A moving body contains kinetic energy while a stationary body has potential energy stored in it. An endless cycle goes on as kinetic energy changes into potential energy and vice versa.Gravitational energy, chemical energy, nuclear energy, and elastic energy, all fall under the category of potential energy as these are stored up in objects. On the other hand, sound energy, radiant energy, and electricity are categorized under kinetic energy. Pipelines are present all over the world as part of the energy industry. More than 65% of these pipelines are present in the U.S. but you might be fascinated to know that it is not the highest consumer of energy in the world. This crown goes to China, closely followed by the U.S. and India.Fun Facts About Solar EnergyIn simple terms, the energy produced by the sun is called solar energy. It being a renewable form of energy is one of the most interesting facts about solar energy. The sun has emitted solar energy for more than a billion years and scientists expect it to last a million more. It is one of the cleanest forms of energy and also the most powerful, if properly utilized.Solar energy is harnessed with the help of solar cells and solar panels. Solar energy does not produce any pollution when electricity is generated. Solar power plants can be used for many years without any interruption. It is also the cheapest energy source in the world. In the U.S., the highest production of solar energy is in California. The Mojave Desert in California has the world’s largest solar power plant.Not only humans, but plants also play an active role in reference to solar power. During photosynthesis, solar energy changes into chemical energy, which in turn, helps in the creation of fossil fuels. Many houses have solar panels on their roofs for producing energy for cooking and heating water.The only disadvantage of solar energy is that it can only be obtained during the day. But the stored solar power can be used 24/7 with the help of solar-powered batteries.Interesting Facts About Nuclear EnergyYou would be fascinated to know that nuclear power produces one-fifth of the electricity each year in the U.S. Nuclear fission is used by power plants for the supply of electrical energy to offices and houses. This energy does not produce any greenhouse gas and therefore, is considered a clean form of energy.The source of nuclear power is uranium, which is a radioactive element found in rocks. It has to be mined from caves before it can be used. About 11% of the global electricity of earth comes from nuclear sources with U.S., Russia, and China occupying the top spots. Many scientists are of the opinion that this energy can save the earth from global warming since it does not harm the ozone layer in the atmosphere.But there are dangers too, as evident from the Chernobyl incident of 1986. The air around Chernobyl became toxic with radioactive materials forcing the local people out of their homes. Closer to home, the Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania was the site of a partial meltdown in 1979, which released some radioactive pollutants but was brought under control soon after.Energy Use By The United StatesThe steady decline in the quantity of coal along with other fossil fuels is proof of the fact that the United States relies heavily on non-renewable sources of energy. Although, studies have shown a shift towards renewable energy sources in the past decade.About 3,000 billion kWh of electric energy is used per year in the United States. Wind turbines and hydropower have always been a steady source of energy in the U.S., but they have not been able to operate at full power. The production of natural gas at a steady rate has become the major source of energy in the nation. The natural gas and oil reserves in Texas will soon cease to exist due to overuse.Thermal power plants converting heat to electricity are being created, which might further push the drive for energy sources related to renewable resources like wind and sun. The U.S. occupies a prominent place in the world in terms of energy use and using fewer fossil fuels like natural gas and coal will cement its place at the top.Amazing Facts About Thermal EnergyThe quantity of thermal energy used by an average household is far greater than most people realize. It is used in heating, cooking, baking, and even cooling.The thermal energy present in the layers inside the earth is known as geothermal energy. This type of energy can also be obtained from underground hot water reservoirs and is used to generate electrical energy. Geothermal power is used to heat buildings in cold areas in the United States and to also melt snow during winter. One fun thermal energy fact is that it was discovered by James Prescott Joule long ago in 1847.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for facts about energy, then why not take a look at facts about trees, or facts about Beethoven.
Energy provides everything we use in day-to-day life, the ability to function properly.
