The concept of energy is actually something intuitive, as there is no specific definition for this physical phenomenon.
It's easy and notorious to feel the energy at certain times, like the heat we feel when burning a bonfire, the light emitted by the candle flame, the water from a waterfall moving the turbines of hydroelectric plants, among others.
We can also add to these intuitive concepts, the association of energy with movement, because in order to move we need energy.
This idea of energy and movement is called kinetic energy because it is associated with the body in motion.
If there is kinetic energy, the body performs work, that is, there is an energy transfer from one body to another.
There is also a type of energy for bodies at rest, which happens only because the body occupies a place in space.
Other types of energy are gravitational energy, elastic potential energy, chemical energy (that of explosives), thermal energy (state of agitation of molecules), electrical energy (directly associated with charges electrical devices).
All the energies mentioned are directly related to the work performed, so it is “allowed” to say that the work is a measure of transferred or transformed energy.
Principle of Energy Conservation
Energy is neither created nor destroyed, it is always transformed from one type to another or others. The total energy that exists before your transformation is equal to your total after that transformation.
In short: Talking about the concept of energy based on the concept of work is the simplest and understandable to show people, with precision and rigor, an idea loaded with meanings, as it is the energy.
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
By Talita A. angels
Graduated in Physics
Brazil School Team
mechanics - Physics - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
ANGELS, Talita Alves dos. "Energy"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/fisica/energia-1.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
