Energy of Change

It’s takes a major boom to “wow” the kids these days…

What is Energy?

Energy: Energy: –The ability to cause changeThe ability to cause change

• Think about things that have energy “in them”…Think about things that have energy “in them”…• All those things can make something DO something!All those things can make something DO something!

– It’s what causes change in everything!It’s what causes change in everything!• Nothing changes without some energy causing it.• Earthquakes, Rain, even human growth is all because of

energy.

Sun = Lots of Energy!

• The Sun is the source for all energy in our The Sun is the source for all energy in our solar system. This is the same for all solar solar system. This is the same for all solar systems in the universe. systems in the universe.

• The heat, pressure and gravity of the sun The heat, pressure and gravity of the sun causes all energy.causes all energy.

• Energy causes change to everything!Energy causes change to everything!

Earths Interior Core Produces Energy:

Radio Active Core

Either it comes straight from the big bright thingy (sun), or it comes from the radioactive energy of our

planet’s core.

There is so much heat and pressure in the core that the Iron atoms are

constantly breaking apart!

This creates LOTS of heat = Energy!!!

There are two “types” of energy:

• Potential: “stored” energy (able or about to do something but isn’t just yet)

The “bow” can shoot the arrow but isn’t right now.

The boulder can fall but it hasn’t yet

Elastic Energy is caused by changing the shape of an object (“stretching”, “bending”, “pulling”, “squishing”)

ElasticGravitational

Gravitational Energy is caused by the force of gravityPulling down on an object while the object is being held up!

The ball could fall, but it hasn’t yet!

There are two basic examples of Potential Energy:

Kinetic energy:

• Kinetic: Energy of movement

Ball falling down = MovementMovement = Kinetic Energy

Gravity pulls the liquid down through

the hole!

This container isfull of a red liquid

But there is a hole!

The motion of the liquid isan example of a substance

with Kinetic Energy

Potential vs. Kinetic:

The Roller Coaster has potential energy at the

top of the hill

But it has Kinetic energy when it rolls down the hill!

The rocket has potential energy when the fuel hasn’t been lit

The rocket has Kinetic energy when it’s fuel is

lit and it flies through the airWow!There’s a lot of

potential energy in this

sucker!

Meteor Impact LabJust look at all these craters of all different sizes!

Why do rocks from space cause this much damage?

We even have them here on We even have them here on Earth!Earth!

NASA has predicted that the greatest threat to life on Earth, is

from a meteor impact!

Use the materials given to you to determine what variables are needed to cause both major and minor damage to Earth…if you finish early, figure out how to save us…