ENERGY CONVERSION MATRIX
Figure 2 To find how one form of energy is converted into another, start at the proper column and move down until the column intersects with the desired row. The box at the intersection will give typical conversion processes and examples.
| FROM⇒ | ELECTROMAGNETIC | CHEMICAL | NUCLEAR | THERMAL | KINETIC (MECHANICAL) | ELECTRICAL | GRAVITATIONAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TO⇓ | |||||||
| ELECTROMAGNETIC | Chemiluminescence (fireflies) | Gamma reactions (Co⁵⁸ source) A-bomb | Thermal radiation (hot iron) | Accelerating charge (cyclotron) Phosphor[2] | Electromagnetic radiation[2] (TV transmitter) Electroluminescence | Unknown | |
| CHEMICAL | Photosynthesis (plants) Photochemistry (photographic film) | Radiation catalysis (hydrazine plant) Ionization (cloud chamber) | Boiling (water/steam) Dissociation | Dissociation by radiolysis | Electrolysis (production of aluminum) Battery charging | Unknown | |
| NUCLEAR | Gamma-neutron reactions (Be⁹+γ → Be⁸+n) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| THERMAL | Solar absorber (hot sidewalk) | Combustion (fire) | Fission (fuel element) Fusion | Friction (brake shoes) | Resistance-heating (electric stove) | Unknown | |
| KINETIC | Radiometer Solar cell[2] | Muscle | Radioactivity (alpha particles) A-bomb | Thermal expansion (turbines) Internal combustion (engines) | Motors Electrostriction (sonar transmitter) | Falling objects | |
| ELECTRICAL | Photoelectricity (light meter) Radio antenna Solar cell[2] | Fuel cell[2] Batteries[2] | Nuclear battery[2] | Thermoelectricity[2] Thermionics[2] Thermomagnetism[2] Ferroelectricity[2] | MHD[2][3] Conventional generator | Unknown | |
| GRAVITATIONAL | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Rising objects (rockets) | Unknown |