Chemistry Humor

ENERGY- 5 Types

This six weeks our focus is on ENERGY! Last week we began our study learning about the five different types of energy. Below are some of the basic concepts discussed along with examples. 

Mechanical Energy- Mechanical energy is the most familiar form of energy. It is the energy a substance or system has because of its motion. Every moving object has mechanical energy, whether it is a hammer driving a nail, a leaf falling from a tree, or a rocket flying in space. Mechanical energy pulls, pushes, twists, turns and throws. Machines use mechanical energy to do work.  Our bodies also use mechanical energy to perform motions such as throwing a ball or moving a pencil to write on paper.

Example: Raising a flag up a flag pole


Sound Energy- Sound is the movement of energy through substances in longitudinal (compression/rarefaction) waves. Sound is produced when a force causes an object or substance to vibrate — the energy is transferred through the substance in a wave. Typically, the energy in sound is far less than other forms of energy.

Let's see this illustration.


A vibrating drum in a disco transfers energy to the room as sound. Kinetic energy from the moving air molecules transfers the sound energy to the dancers eardrums. Notice that Kinetic (movement) energy in the sticks is being transferred into sound energy.

Sound vibrations create sound waves which move through mediums such as
air and water before reaching our ears.

Example: The sound caused by the vibrations of the strings on a guitar.



Electrical Energy- A battery transfers stored chemical energy as charged particles called electrons, typically moving through a wire. For example, electrical energy is transferred to the surroundings by the lamp as light energy and thermal (heat) energy.

Lightning is one good example of electrical energy in nature, so powerful that it is not confined to a wire. Thunderclouds build up large amounts of electrical energy. This is called static electricity. They are released during lightning when the clouds strike against each other.

         


Light Energy- Light energy is the only visible form of energy. Light energy is the energy produced or given off directly from the sun causing the growth of plants and the existence of most life forms.

Example: Light from the sun, a fire or candle



Thermal/Heat Energy- Thermal energy is what we call energy that comes from heat. For example, a cup of hot tea has thermal energy in the form of kinetic energy from its' particles. When you pour some milk into your tea, some of this energy is transferred to the particles in cold milk. What happens next? The cup of tea is cooler because it lost thermal energy to the milk.

Example: Heat from the sun or a fire

 

Some of the information was taken from the websites:  www.eschooltoday.com and www.energyeducation.tx.gov

My Ice Cube Adventure

Students recently combined their knowledge of Properties of Matter, a Science Lab and Writing all into one. During our weekly Science Lab, each student was given one ice cube in a small bowl and told to conduct four action verbs to it. Students were predicting which actions caused the ice cubes to melt faster. I.E. Swirling it, breathe on it, lick it, etc. We reviewed the vocabulary words: Melting, Freezing, Solid, Liquid and States of Matter. We discussed how in order to change a Liquid to a Solid heat had to be removed and freezing had to occur. Then we chatted about how the actions could be reversed- going from a Solid to a Liquid. Students concluded that heat would then have to be added and that melting would occur. Once the lab was complete we composed our experience into writing. Below is the Ice Cube Adventure I created and modeled for the students. Students were required in their writing to use the five discussed vocabulary words along with add in the four action verbs they completed in the lab. Students were to underline the above information in their papers.

Ice Cube Adventure

Swimming through the lake one day, Sam and Fred decided to go on the outskirts of the lake. They were very tiny water molecules and their parents had warned them to always stay close by. Without minding their parent’s caution, they swam out anyway. Sam saw a silver ring at the bottom of the lake and motioned to Fred to come with him. Fred said, “I don’t know Sam, it looks kind of dangerous.” Sam went on instead and swam closer and closer to the ring. All of a sudden, Sam realized that he was being pulled closer and closer to the ring and he was unable to stop. Sam cried out for help but then suddenly got sucked into the silver cylinder. He swirled and swirled through a long grey pipe, went through several tubes and filters and then saw a light ahead of him. Sam realized what was about to happen, he was about to go through a water faucet. He fell out of the faucet and into a small blue square container. He was concerned about his liquid state when suddenly it got very dark and extremely cold. He knew that water changed to a solid called ice when heat was removed. Changing a liquid to a solid is called freezing and he definitely was! He was turning into an ICE CUBE!!! Sam tried to fight it but grew very tired and then just gave up and went to sleep. He woke up to a sudden light and instant change in temperature. He began to feel shaking and then fell into a bowl with other helpless ice cubes. He felt some fingers pick him up and place him into a small bowl. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a friendly face. It was Mrs. Welch! He had seen her several times at the lake conducting various science experiments and he knew if he told her his story that she would help him out. Sam began to beg Mrs. Welch, “Please, please help get back to a liquid water molecule, please! I miss my family and friend Fred.” Mrs. Welch knew that Sam was quickly already on his way to changing his state of matter back to a liquid because he was in a warmer environment and no longer the freezer. Sam however was freaking out so Mrs. Welch decided to help him change quicker. She first swirled him around in the bowl. Next, she began to bounce him up and down inside the bowl. Sam quickly asked her to stop because he was getting a major headache. Mrs. Welch apologized and picked Sam up and began to pet him. She could tell he was still very cold so she started to blow her breath on him to heat him up. Before much more time, Sam finally was melting back to his liquid state! He couldn’t believe it! It felt good to be back to the way things used to be and he made one final request to Mrs. Welch. “Can you please return me to the lake?” Mrs. Welch was already headed there that afternoon and decided to drop him off. That night Sam warned everyone of the shiny lake ring and reminded them of the importance of following the rules and listening to their parents.


The students did fantastic on this! See some student samples below!!!