Energy exists in many forms, and when these change, energy is conserved. Different forms of energy include the following:
Mechanical
Thermal
Chemical
Electrical
Electromagnetic
Nuclear energy
All of these types of energy have the ability to do work, which is also the definition of energy. Additionally, they have other properties, which are specific to their own specific form.
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is energy in the nucleus of an atom. There is enormous energy in the bonds that hold atoms together. Nuclear energy can be used to make electricity.
Today, Nuclear Energy is used widely throughout the world. For instance, it is the second largest power supplier of energy in the United States. Also, Nuclear Energy is used in the medical field, in the form of x-rays and a radiotherapy for cancer patients.
Are nuclear power plants perfectly safe?
No. Nothing is perfectly safe, but they are safe enough to be relied upon as a source of energy
How does nuclear energy compare to other power sources?
A single uranium fuel pellet the size of a pencil eraser contains the same amount of energy as 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds of coal or 149 gallons of oil.
Is nuclear energy considered a renewable energy source?
A renewable energy source uses an essentially limitless supply of fuel, whether wind, the sun or water. Nuclear energy is often called a sustainable energy source, because there is enough uranium in the world to fuel reactors for 100 years or more.
Electromagnetic Energy
Electromagnetic energy is familiar to most people as light and heat, but it can take many other forms, such as radio waves and X-rays. These are all types of radiation originating from the electromagnetic force, which is responsible for all electrical and magnetic phenomena.
Most forms of technology rely largely on electromagnetic energy. The Industrial Revolution was powered by