Transformation of Electric Energy

Transformation of Electric Energy

Charlie was excited! Today was the first day of school. Charlie used many different types of energy as he was getting ready for school.

While getting ready, he noticed that many different energy transformations were taking place all around him.

First, Charlie took a shower, and after he was through, he used a blow dryer to dry his hair. The blow dryer transformed electrical energy into thermal (heat) energy. The dryer also transformed electrical energy into sound energy. The dryer was loud, so he did not hear his sister, Amanda, tell him to come eat breakfast.

His mom made his favorite breakfast: waffles! She used the waffle iron to make them. The waffle iron transformed electrical energy into thermal energy to cook his waffles.

In the bathroom, Amanda used a curling iron to curl her hair. Charlie explained that the electrical energy converted to thermal, or heat, energy. The siblings both brushed their

energy – the ability to do work or cause change

energy transformation – also known as energy conversion, the process of energy changing from one form of energy into another

teeth with electric toothbrushes, which Amanda knew transformed electrical energy into motion energy.

Charlie’s mom reminded him to make sure he turned off the light and fan in his room as they were leaving for school. Charlie knew that the light in his room converted electricity into light energy, and the fan converted electrical energy into motion in order to turn the fan blades. Once Charlie touched the light bulb in his room and burned his hand, so he knew that the light energy transformed electricity into heat energy, also!

Charlie and Amanda were amazed at all the energy transformations taking place just in the short amount of time as they prepared for school.

We use electricity every day to power appliances and lights in our homes, businesses, and schools. All the appliances that Charlie and Amanda used as they got ready for school transformed electrical energy into another form of energy. Electricity was transformed into thermal (heat) energy, sound energy, light energy, and energy of motion.

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Transformation of Electric Energy

Types of Energy

Electrical Energy Energy of moving electrons, produced by a power source

Heat Energy Energy that causes a change in temperature between materials; also called thermal energy

Light Energy Energy that can be seen by the eye

Sound Energy Energy produced from vibrations that you can hear

Energy of Motion Energy an object has due to its motion

These days, energy is required for just about everything in our lives. Energy comes in many different forms and impacts almost everything we do. Energy also has the ability to do work by powering machines, making things move, and causing changes.

Energy is not created or destroyed; it is transformed into another form of energy. For example, when electricity is sent to a light bulb, the energy is then changed into both heat and light. The energy is not used up or lost; it is transformed into another type of energy.

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Transformation of Electric Energy

Energy transformations occur all around you. What type of energy transformation occurs in each picture below?

___________________ ___________________

___________________ ___________________

Look out for lights around you. Have you ever observed that light bulbs get hot? This is because some of the electrical energy is transformed into heat energy as a result of the bulb lighting up.

filament – thin metal wire that conducts electricity

Have you ever wondered how a light bulb works? Electrical energy is used to generate light in light bulbs. In filament bulbs, an electrical current is run through a filament in the bulb until it is very hot and lights the bulb.

Career Corner: Electrical Engineer Have you ever considered a career as an electrical engineer? An electrical engineer designs and works on products that use electrical energy as a power source. They work with all kinds of electronic devices, from small, handheld phones or cameras to large appliances or computers. An electrical engineer might be responsible for designing the electrical systems that deliver electricity to a car’s computer system or for troubleshooting a problem with a household appliance.

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Transformation of Electric Energy

Electrical engineers have lots of experience with energy transformations. If there is a breakdown in energy transformations, electrical engineers can use their problem-solving skills to fix it. Does this sound like something you might be interested in doing?

This photo on the right is of an electrical engineer testing voltage using a multimeter tool.

Look at each picture below and choose which type of energy transformation is taking place. Decide which type of energy the electrical energy is being transformed into and circle the correct type(s) of energy you see. There may be more than one answer.

Electrical energy is being converted into __________________________ energy.

light sound motion heat

light sound motion heat

light sound motion heat

Which types of energy did you choose? Were there more than one? Explain your reasoning._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Transformation of Electric Energy

Look at the pictures. Circle the places in the pictures where you see electrical energy being transformed into other types of energy with the colors listed.

Light = yellow Sound = blue Heat = red

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Transformation of Electric Energy

Electricity is all around us. You can share these discoveries with your child by helping him or her identify the electrical transformations occurring within your home. Some of the electrical appliances that may be in your home are listed below.

● Dishwasher● Clothes washer● Hair dryer● Oven● Toaster● Television● Radio

Ask your child to identify the type of energy into which the electrical energy is being transformed. Electrical energy can be transformed into several different types of energy. It is important to emphasize that energy is neither gained nor lost, but it is transformed into another type of energy such as sound, light, heat, and energy of motion.

Here are some questions to discuss with your child: 1. What types of energy can electrical energy be transformed into?2. How does electrical energy move?3. Is energy ever lost?4. What happens to energy when you use it?

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