what is
energY?
Energy comes in many forms and can transform
from one type of energy to another.
10
An electromagnetic wave can also be described in
terms of its energy – in units of measure called
electron volts (eV). Moving along the spectrum from
long to short wavelengths, energy increases as the
wavelength shortens. Consider a jump rope with its
ends being pulled up and down. More energy is needed
to make the rope have more waves.
WAVElENGTH The distance from crest to crest or trough
to trough of a wave.
2
ELECTRICAL
ENERGY
Whe n your
po�er is turned on , the
batt�
is � an s�erri�
the
s�
� en ergy to
el ec� ical en ergy.
4
SOuND ENERGY
The en ergy is � � sferred
to sound en ergy by the
spea� r.
5
ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENERGY
Light emitted
by the
bright ��� is �
e�am�le o� � ectr o-
magn� ic � ergy.
crest
don ’t � rg�
to plug in
audio cable
an d m�sic
source
tr ough
¡� ou�h
¡crest
Sound waves are both potential
and kinetic energy. When the
speaker moves, it compresses air
molecules nearby, giving that
air potential energy. When the
air expands, potential energy is
transformed into kinetic energy.
Waves created by compressing and
expanding matter – such as air
molecules – are called compres-
sion waves.
lon ger wave len gth
=
less en ergy
shorter �ave l� gth
=
more en ergy
1
POTEnTIAL
ENERGY
�he batt�
is
an e�ample of poten
ti al
(or stor
ed � en er�y.
S
C
i
ENC
E iN
a
C
T
iO
N
try the
Wave Generator
Project p.13
3
KiNETIC EnERGY
The �� mo�
is �
e�am�le o� � ne ic
(movi� � en ergy
beca�se it spins.
