RESOURCES
Energy transformation
In physics and engineering, energy transformation or energy conversion, is any process of transforming one form of energy into another. Energy of fossil fuels, solar radiation, or nuclear fuels can be converted into other energy forms such as electrical, propulsive, or heating that are more useful to us. Often, machines are used to transform energy. The efficiency of a machine characterizes how well (how efficiently) it can produce a useful output (such as work for example) through such a conversion. Energy transformations are important in the application of the energy concept in various natural sciences including biology, chemistry, geology and cosmology.
Energy may be transformed so that it may be used by other natural processes or machines, or else to provide some service to society (such as heat, light, or motion). For example, an internal combustion engine converts the potential chemical energy in gasoline and oxygen into the propulsive energy that moves a vehicle. A solar cell converts solar radiation into electrical energy that can then be used to light a bulb or power a computer. The generic name for a device which converts energy from one form to another is transducer.
Other energy conversions
There are many different machines that convert one energy form into another:
- Fuel cells (Chemical energy → Electricity)
- Geothermal power (Heat → Electricity)
- Heat engines, such as the internal combustion engine used in cars or the steam engine (Heat → Electricity)
- Hydroelectric dams (Mechanical energy → Electricity)
- Lamp (Chemical energy → Heat and Light)
- Microphone (Sound → Electricity)
- Nuclear reactor (Nuclear energy → Electricity)
- Ocean thermal power (Heat → Electricity)
- Solar cells (Light → Electricity)
- Solar thermal (Light → Heat)
- Loudspeaker (Electricity → Sound)
- Thermophotovoltaics (Heat → Electricity)
- Steam engine (Heat → Mechanical energy)
- Wave power (Mechanical energy → Electricity)
- Windmills (Wind energy → Electricity or Mechanical energy)
- Piezoelectrics (Sound ↔ Electricity)