Have You Ever Wondered: What Is Energy?
There are many different definitions of energy. Perhaps the shortest answer to the question, what is energy, is that energy is the ability to do work.
Energy provides the power to move our bodies, heat our water, and fuel our vehicles. The answer to the question, what is energy, takes almost as many forms as energy itself.
Different Forms Of Energy
Some of the different forms of energy are thermal energy (heat), radiant energy (light), mechanical energy, electrical energy, chemical energy, and nuclear energy. We often hear of energy referred to in its renewable and nonrenewable forms. Knowing what energy is helps us manage energy better.
What Is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy is a source of energy that can be renewed, or replenished, in a relatively short period of time. The energy in our bodies is renewable; we replenish it by eating foods that contain nutrients, which our bodies convert to usable energy.
Other forms of renewable energy are solar energy, wind energy, and water energy. Solar energy comes from the sun. Since the sun rises anew every day, it is considered a renewable energy source. Solar energy is captured in energy cells and converted to electricity.
Similarly, wind energy is renewed every time the wind blows. What wind energy is available in windy regions is captured by windmills and converted to electricity. Water energy is created when water flows downhill at a rapid rate of speed, such as in a waterfall or dam. Like wind energy and solar energy, what energy is created by the flow of water is captured and converted to usable electricity.
What is Non-Renewable Energy?
Non-renewable energy is energy that comes from an energy source that cannot be replenished in a reasonably short period of time. Examples of non-renewable energy sources are petroleum-based oil, coal, and natural gas. If these resources have been depleted, they may take hundreds or thousands of years to replace.
What energy is derived from these non-renewable sources should be used carefully because non-renewable energy is more precious than renewable energy. Whenever possible, renewable energy sources should be used instead of non-renewable energy sources.
Oil - Renewable Or Non-Renewable?
Humankind has used oil for energy since ancient history to produce thermal energy and radiant energy. Today when we think of oil, we think of petroleum based oil that fuels our cars. However, early man burned renewable oils, like beef tallow and whale blubber.
In modern times, using animal fat as an energy source is impractical because modern farming practices create undesirable environmental effects. However, technology has made it possible to convert plant oils like corn oil and soybean oil into renewable, sustainable energy sources. What energy is derived from plants can be derived without serious harm to the environment if sustainable farming practices are used.
