EFE - What is Energy? Lesson

What is Energy?

Time to Recharge!

Let’s say you are up late studying for an environmental science test. You start to get tired; it's hard for your eyes to stay open, and you are yawning a lot. You feel sluggish but not tired, and you know that you need to study some more before the test tomorrow.

You think to yourself – what do I need? Sleep? Not tired just sluggish…so you get up and head to the kitchen for a snack. After about 30 minutes you feel better – not so sluggish, that snack must have done the trick because you seem to have more energy. But have you ever stopped to think about what does that exactly mean? And why did you need that food?

What is Energy?

Energy is one of the most fundamental and universal concepts of physical science, but one that is remarkably difficult to define in a way that is meaningful to most people. This perhaps reflects the fact that energy is not a “thing” that exists by itself, but is rather an attribute of matter (and also of electromagnetic radiation) that can manifest itself in different ways.

Click on the images below to learn more about energy.


Energy stored in an object usually due to an object's position, arrangement or state. This is energy with the potential to do work when and if the energy is released. An example of potential energy is when food is eaten. Food contains chemical energy in its bonds. This is energy that can perform work in a cell	Energy of motion when an object is doing work or moving This is the energy of mass (an object) in motion (moving). An example, as food is digested, the bonds are broken, and the stored energy is converted into cellular energy which allows cells to perform the tasks necessary for life – divide, move, breath, etc.

Law of Conservation of Energy

Watch this video to review energy:

Energy Relationships

What is Energy? Challenge

Before You Go, You Need to Know

The following key points are from this explore section of the lesson. You must know the following information before moving to the next lesson. This is just a summary of the key points.

Energy in an ecosystem comes in all forms but is broken down into two main categories
- Potential Energy
- Kinetic Energy
Thermodynamics is the study of is the study of energy and the work being done in systems such as an ecosystem.
- 1st Law of Thermodynamic is also called the Conservation of Energy and states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed
- 2^nd Law of Thermodynamics - Every time an energy transfer happens; some amount of useful energy will move from the useful to the useless energy

IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS OR OPEN SOURCE