Energy is the ability to do work. Work is the product of force and distance. Energy is used every day and everywhere. The nuclear reactions in the sun releases heat light and other electromagnetic energy. Corn uses that energy to grow. The corn stores chemical metabolic energy. When the chicken eats the corn it stores energy in itself. When we chicken we store energy inside of us. Then we use metabolic energy and turn it into mechanical energy by pedaling a bike up a hill. The pedaling of the bike turns into kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. When the bike reaches the top of the hill even if it is stopped it still has potential energy. Potential energy is energy that is stored as a result of position or shape. When you start going back down the hill potential energy is turned back into kinetic energy. The objects gravitational potential energy depends on its mass, its height and the acceleration due to gravity. The potential energy of an item that is stretched or compressed is known as elastic potential energy. This can be demonstrated by stretching a rubber band and letting go, and having it fly across the room. The elastic potential energy is turned into kinetic energy. The major forms of energy are mechanical energy, thermal energy, chemical energy, electrical energy, electromagnetic energy, and nuclear energy. Mechanical energy is the energy that has to do with the movement and position of everyday objects. Mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy. A running athlete has mechanical energy. Thermal energy is the total potential and kinetic energy of atoms moving. The faster the atoms move the more thermal energy, and the warmer it gets. Energy stored in the chemical bonds of compounds is chemical energy. Chemical energy is burned to turn into other types of energy. Anything using electricity is electrical energy. Lightning is a form of electrical energy. Electromagnetic energy travels through space in the form of waves. The energy stored in atomic nuclei is nuclear energy. Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to generate energy. Energy conversion is the transfer of one form of energy to another. Also, the law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. If you have a basketball and hold it above your head it has potential energy, as you drop the ball it is converted to kinetic energy when it hits the ground the elastic potential energy stored in the basketball causes it to spring back up. As friction and air resistance stop the ball from bouncing, the energy is converted into thermal energy. Energy was never destroyed it was simply transferred from one type to another. Mechanical energy is kinetic energy plus potential energy. A running athlete has mechanical energy. Some energy sources are renewable, they can be easily replaced. However, oil, natural gas, coal, petroleum, and uranium are non renewable energy sources. That means, that once they are all used up it could take up to a million years to replace. Most nonrenewable energy resources are fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are made from decomposing dead organisms. Oil is burned to help run motors. Natural gas is used for heating houses, transportation and generating electricity. Coal is mainly used for producing electricity, but it also causes a lot of pollution to the