What is Energy Conversion?
The term conversion represents change or transformation. In correspondence to energy, the term conversion defines the transformation or change of energy from one specific form to another. Thus, changing one type of energy to a different type is what we call Energy Conversion. The alternative term for it is Energy Transformation.
Generally, the energy (existing in natural form) is converted into a form that humans can use for their various uses.
There are so many forms in which energy exists, namely electrical energy, wind energy, tidal energy, solar energy, mechanical energy, electrical energy, sound energy, electromagnetic energy, etc.
Table of Contents
What is Energy?
The capacity with which a task or work is performed is energy. It is of convertible and transferrable nature.
Sometimes people might have confusion between energy transformation and energy transfer as they understand the two as synonyms of each other.
Energy transfer basically indicates the movement of energy from one place to another for some sort of application with proper resources. While energy transformation indicates the changing of the existing form of energy to a different form.
One example of energy transfer is the flow of electricity from the main power supply of the house to the switchboard. As against, one example of energy transformation is converting the kinetic energy of water to produce electrical energy.
You must note a point over here that while converting energy from one form to another, the total amount of energy remains the same.
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Law of Conversion of Energy
The Law of Conservation of Energy is also the first law of thermodynamics. It states that one can neither create energy nor destroy it. This is because it can only be changed from one form to another.
The theory of energy transformation applies to each and every form of energy. Like, as kinetic, potential, light, heat, nuclear, sound energy, etc. The transformation of energy from one form to another can be done with the use of proper resources repeatedly. However, some parameters, like friction effect or air pressure, affect energy transformation.
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Examples
Let us now move forward and understand the conversion of energy from one form to another by considering some examples from our day-to-day life.
Conversion of electrical energy into light energy
Glowing of bulb or lamp in the room when power is supplied to it from the electric supply.
Conversion of chemical energy into kinetic energy
Eating of food by a human or animal and utilizing the energy obtained from it to walk or run or to do any other task.
Conversion of light energy into chemical energy
The solar energy supplied by the sun helps in the process of photosynthesis, by which plants make their own food.
Conversion of electrical energy into heat energy
By supplying electric power, an electric oven generates heat that makes the food hot.
Conversion of kinetic energy to thermal energy
Fast running generates heat inside the body, which is in motion.
Conversion of wind energy to mechanical energy
A windmill converts the energy obtained from the wind into mechanical energy (rotational motion) that is further used for various applications.
Conversion of electrical energy into sound energy
When the energy in the form of electricity is provided to a sound system, then it results in producing vibration resulting in providing music or respective sound through it.
Conversion of chemical energy into heat energy
When a wooden log is burnt, then the chemical reaction taking place results in giving rise to heat energy as well as light energy.
Conversion of sound energy to electrical energy
Microphones convert the sound energy provided to the mike into electrical energy.
Conversion of heat energy to electrical energy
Thermocouples are very famous for converting heat or temperature variation into adequate electrical energy.
Conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy
Use of stored or moving water in dams and rivers to produce electricity for transmission purposes.
