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Energy: Machines, Motion and Light

Author: Amanda Soderlind

Energy is used in our everyday lives to power machines that allow us to live the lifestyle we are accustom to. We rely on electricity and without energy we would not have electricity! There are two categories of energy, potential energy and kinetic energy. Potential energy is the stored energy in a system due to its position and kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Motion and light (both are types of energy) can be used to power machines which provide us with electricity (electrical energy)! Water moving over a dam causes turbines to turn which produces electricity, wind can move the blades on a wind turbine and produce electricity or ocean waves can turn turbines and produce electricity. All of these energy sources involve movement or kinetic energy to produce electricity! Electricity can also be produced by light, as in solar energy. The energy from the sun can be captured by solar cells and can be stored or converted into useable electricity. 

 

 

 

Hoover Dam:

 

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