Question

instructions:

• fill in the blanks below with the kinds of energy involved. each sentence will then describe an energy transformation
• after each transformation draw a simple energy chain to represent the transformation. the first few are done for you as examples

1. in a portable stereo, ____ energy is changed to __ energy, and then into ____ energy.
2. when you burn wood in a campfire, ____ energy is converted to __ and ____ energy.
3. in a computer monitor, ____ energy is transformed into __ energy and ____ energy.
4. through the process of photosynthesis, ____ energy from the sun is changed to stored ____ energy.
5. if you place a ball at the edge of a hill, and it rolls downhill, ____ energy is changed to ____ energy.
6. in a flashlight, the ____ energy in batteries is changed to __ energy and then to ____ energy.
7. in a fan, ____ energy is changed to ____ energy.

Explanation:

1. Portable stereo uses batteries (chemical energy) to produce electrical energy which is then converted to sound energy.
2. Burning wood (chemical energy) releases heat and light energy.
3. Computer monitor uses electrical energy which is transformed into light (for display) and heat (due to operation).
4. Photosynthesis converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy (stored in plants).
5. A ball at the edge of a hill has potential energy (due to height) which is changed to kinetic energy (as it rolls downhill).
6. Flashlight batteries have chemical energy converted to electrical energy and then to light energy.
7. Fan uses electrical energy which is changed to kinetic (mechanical) energy (to move the fan blades).

Answer:

1. Chemical; Electrical; Sound
2. Chemical; Heat; Light
3. Electrical; Light; Heat
4. Light; Chemical
5. Potential; Kinetic
6. Chemical; Electrical; Light
7. Electrical; Kinetic (Mechanical)