Energy is a universal term we use a lot in our daily life. Although used loosely quite often, energy has a specific physical meaning. In physics, we define energy as the ability of something to do work. Energy can exist in many forms. All forms of energy are either kinetic or potential. In this article, let us understand what energy is and the different types of energy in detail.
What Is Energy?
There are different forms of energy on earth. The sun is considered the elemental form of energy on earth. In physics, energy is considered a quantitative property that can be transferred from an object to perform work. Hence, we can define energy as the strength to do any kind of physical activity. Thus, in simple words, we can define energy as,
Energy is the ability to do work
According to the laws of conservation of energy, “ energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can only be converted from one form to another”. The SI unit of energy is Joule.
Units of Energy
The International System of Units of measurement of energy is joule. The unit of energy is named after James Prescott Joule. Joule is a derived unit equal to the energy expended in applying a force of one newton through a distance of one meter. However, energy is also expressed in many other units not part of the SI, such as ergs, calories, British Thermal Units, kilowatt-hours, and kilocalories, which require a conversion factor when expressed in SI units.
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