Energy Conversion

How energy changes forms — kinetic, potential, thermal, light

Energy cannot be created or destroyed — only transformed from one form to another. This is the Law of Conservation of Energy. Common energy forms include: kinetic energy (motion), gravitational potential energy (height), thermal energy (heat), light energy (photons), electrical energy, and chemical energy. When a ball is dropped, gravitational PE converts to kinetic energy as it falls. On impact, kinetic energy converts to thermal energy (heat) and sound. The total energy remains constant throughout, just in different forms. In real systems, energy often 'leaks' to thermal energy (friction, air resistance), which is why perpetual motion machines are impossible.