How is Energy Transformed?
What is energy and how do we change it? Energy is a fundamental concept of science involving the capacity for doing work. Kinetic or mechanical energy is the most obvious form of energy. It is defined as
E = ½ mv²
where
E = energy (expressed in joules)
m = mass of the moving object (in kilograms)
v = velocity (in meters per second)
Energy can also be stored in chemical and nuclear substances or in the water behind a dam. In these quiescent states it is called potential energy. If the potential energy in a substance is abundant and easily released, the energy-rich substance is called a fuel.