Energy Types and Conservation Flashcards

Grade 7 · Science · Flashcards

Key vocabulary for types of energy, energy transformations, and conservation laws.

Flashcards

Energy: The ability to do work or cause change; measured in Joules (J).
Kinetic energy: Energy of motion; KE = ½mv². Increases with speed or mass.
Potential energy: Stored energy due to position or condition; includes gravitational, elastic, and chemical.
Gravitational PE: Potential energy due to height; GPE = mgh (mass × gravity × height).
Elastic PE: Potential energy stored in a stretched or compressed spring or elastic material.
Chemical energy: Energy stored in chemical bonds; released in reactions like burning or digestion.
Thermal energy: The total kinetic energy of all particles in a substance.
Radiant energy: Energy transmitted by electromagnetic waves (light, UV, X-rays, radio waves).
Electrical energy: Energy from the movement of electric charges (electrons) through a conductor.
Nuclear energy: Energy stored in the nucleus of atoms; released by fission (splitting) or fusion (combining).
Mechanical energy: The total of kinetic and potential energy in a system.
Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed — only converted from one form to another.
Energy transformation: The conversion of energy from one form to another (e.g., chemical to thermal when burning wood).
Joule (J): The SI unit of energy; equal to 1 kg·m²/s².