Energy is all around us. It's the basis for life and it allows us to do work.

In fact, the simplest definition for energy is "the ability to do work." Energy can exist in one of two types: potential or kinetic. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Anytime an object moves, it possesses kinetic energy. Kinetic energy comes in a variety of forms: sound, light, heat, and electrical. Potential energy is stored energy. The word potential means "the ability to develop into something in the future." There are many different forms of potential energy. Some forms are part of our everyday lives, while other forms of potential energy are less common. One form of potential energy is gravitational energy. Gravitational energy is the potential energy that an object has because of its position relative to a baseline or to the ground. Imagine a child sitting at the top of a slide. Neither the child nor the slide is moving, so there is no kinetic energy at this point. But the moment the child scoots forward onto the slope of the slide, she begins to move down the slide. At the top of the slide, she has a certain amount of potential energy. Gravity pulls her down the slide to the ground. Her gravitational energy decreases as she nears the ground. A child at the top of a slide has greater gravitational energy than a child at the bottom of the slide. A second form of potential energy is elastic energy. A rubber band is an example of elastic energy. An unstretched rubber band contains no potential energy. The tighter you stretch the rubber band, the more elastic energy it contains. When you release the rubber band, that elastic energy can become kinetic energy. Trampolines and bungee cords make use of elastic energy. A hunter's bow works using elastic energy as well. When the bowstring is released, the stored elastic energy is released and transferred to the arrow as kinetic energy.

A third form of potential energy is chemical energy. Chemical energy is the type of energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules. Common fuels we use every day, such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal, contain chemical energy. The hydrocarbon molecules in these fuels have stored chemical energy. When we burn these fuels, the energy is released. We use this released energy to propel our cars, light and heat our homes, and power our appliances. Another substance that contains chemical energy is wood. When we burn wood, we break the bonds of the molecules that make up the wood. The stored chemical energy becomes thermal energy, or heat. Another form of potential energy is electrical energy. Electrical energy is energy that comes from charged particles. Electricity is a form of electrical energy. A battery stores energy as chemical energy, which it converts to electrical energy in a circuit. When the battery is connected to a toy or appliance, an electrical current is allowed to flow. A final form of potential energy is nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is stored in the nucleus of an atom. When the atom is split in a reactor, large amounts of energy are released. Some power plants utilize nuclear energy to produce electricity, but splitting atoms isn't simple, and the process involves some risk.