Energy and forms of Energy

In this post we will learn about the different forms of energy: 

We can define energy as a quantity that can be assigned to any particle, object, or system of objects as a consequence of its physical state.Lets try and understand the different forms of energy and some examples.

Kinetic Energy:
Lets consider a ball thrown and is on air. The ball is said to have "kinetic energy" by virtue of the fact that its in motion relative to the ground.

Potential Energy:
Lets consider a water bottle on a table. The water bottle is said to have "potential energy" because if it is nudged off, gravity will accelerate the book, giving the book kinetic energy. Some examples of potential energy are the massive ball of a demolition machine and the stretched bow possesses stored energy of position – potential energy

Thermal, or heat energy:
Consider a hot cup of coffee. The coffee is said to possess "thermal energy", or "heat energy" which is really the collective, microscopic, kinetic and potential energy of the molecules in the coffee (the molecules have kinetic energy because they are moving and vibrating, and they have potential energy due their mutual attraction for one another - much the same way that the book and the Earth have potential energy because they attract each other).  

Chemical Energy:
Consider the ability of your body to do work. The glucose (blood sugar) in your body is said to have "chemical energy" because the glucose releases energy when chemically reacted (combusted) with oxygen. 

Electrical Energy

All matter is made up of atoms, and atoms are made up of smaller particles, called protons (which have positive charge), neutrons (which have neutral charge), and electrons (which are negatively charged). Electrons orbit around the center, or nucleus, of atoms, just like the moon orbits the earth. The nucleus is made up of neutrons and protons.