Energy is everywhere—it powers our bodies, our world, and even the universe. But what exactly is energy? In science, energy is simply the ability to do work, which means it allows us to apply force and cause motion. Energy comes in many forms, like light, heat, and electricity, and we use these every day without even realizing it.

Imagine having a snack like nachos. Your body breaks down the food, releasing stored energy (measured in calories) that fuels activities like walking, dancing, and even just keeping warm. The sun, meanwhile, provides light and heat energy, warming up our surroundings. When you hear music from a speaker, that’s another example of energy in action: electrical energy powers the speaker, which then produces sound energy.

An important concept to understand is the law of conservation of energy. This principle tells us that energy can’t be created or destroyed; it only changes from one form to another. For example, when sunlight reaches Earth, plants use this light energy to produce food through photosynthesis, storing it as chemical energy. When we consume plants (or animals that have eaten plants), we gain energy from the sun indirectly. Another example is the energy transfer that happens when you kick a ball—the mechanical energy from your foot moves to the ball, setting it in motion.

Energy, then, is constantly transforming all around us, making sure that nothing is ever “lost”—it simply shifts to power the next action. So as you go about your day, see if you can spot different types of energy transformations happening around you. Energy, in all its forms, is essential to everything we do.

Energy in Action

Energy is everywhere around us and takes on lots of different forms. Imagine being at an amusement park, surrounded by sounds, lights, and all the moving rides. This is a great place to explore how energy works! By definition, energy is the ability to do work, and it exists in forms like thermal, light, sound, electrical, chemical, and mechanical energy. Thermal energy, for instance, is what warms us up and even melts ice cream. It’s caused by the movement of atoms, and we feel it as heat. Light energy, on the other hand, is what makes things visible to us, like the flashing lights on rides.

Sound energy moves as vibrations through the air or other materials. It’s what we hear in the park, from the screams on roller coasters to music playing over speakers. Then there’s electrical energy, which powers everything from rides to popcorn machines, and chemical energy, which is stored in things like food or fuel and released when it’s needed.

Mechanical energy—the energy of motion—includes kinetic and potential energy. Kinetic energy is the energy in moving things, like a skateboarder or a roller coaster zooming down a hill.

Potential energy is stored up, ready to be used. For example, a roller coaster at the top of a hill has lots of potential energy, which turns into kinetic energy as it races down. This switch from potential to kinetic energy is what keeps rides exciting!

As the coaster moves, some of its energy transforms into heat and sound due to friction with the track. Energy is never lost; it just changes form, thanks to the law of conservation of energy. So next time you’re on a ride, remember—you’re experiencing energy in action, transforming from one type to another all around you!