Learning Target:
Energy is the ability to do work and it comes in several forms.

  • Energy is the ability to do work
1. Recognize work as using force to move an object in the direction of the force
  • Energy comes in different forms (i.e. thermal [kinetic], electrical, nuclear, light [radiant/electromagnetic], mechanical [kinetic/potential], chemical [potential])
1. Define potential energy as stored energy
2. Define kinetic energy as motion
3. Recognize examples of different forms of energy

Learning Target:
Energy transformations occur between different systems, and heat is often a byproduct within the system.

· Identify the different energy transformations that occur between different systems (e.g., chemical energy in battery converted to electricity in circuit converted to light and heat from a bulb)
1. Recognize the types of energy in a system
2. Diagram how energy changes form in a system


· Identify that, during an energy transformation, heat is often transferred from one object (system) to another because of a difference in temperature
1. Heat moves from warmer objects to cooler objects
2. Identify where heat is a byproduct of energy transformations in a system


· Recognize and describe how energy is not lost but conserved as it is transferred and transformed
1. Law of Conservation of Energy


· Recognize and describe how chemical energy is stored in chemical compounds (e.g., energy stored in and released from food molecules, batteries, nitrogen explosives, fireworks, organic fuels)

Learning Target:
Thermal energy is transferred (moved) as heat using conduction, convection, and radiation when there is a difference in temperature between two things (until equilibrium).

· Identify thermal energy is transferred as heat from warmer objects to cooler objects until both reach the same temperature (equilibrium)


· Identify the type of materials that transfer energy by conduction, convection, and/or radiation


· Describe how heat is transferred by conduction, convection, and radiation, and classify examples of each