Types of energy store
There are eight main stores of energyThe capacity of a system to do work or the quantity required for mechanical work to take place. Measured in joules (J). For example, a man transfers 100 J of energy when moving a wheelbarrow.:
- magnetic
- internal (thermal)
- chemical
- kinetic
- electrostatic
- elastic potential
- gravitational potential
- nuclear
Learn more on energy stores and systems in this podcast
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Examples of energy stores
| Energy store | Description | Examples |
| Magnetic | The energy stored when repelling poles have been pushed closer together or when attracting poles have been pulled further apart. | Fridge magnets, compasses, maglev trains which use magnetic levitation. |
| Internal (thermal) | The total kinetic and potential energy of the particles in an object, in most cases this is the vibrations – also known as the kinetic energy – of particles. In hotter objects, the particles have more internal energy and vibrate faster. | Human bodies, hot coffees, stoves or hobs. Ice particles vibrate slower, but still have energy. |
| Chemical | The energy stored in chemical bonds, such as those between molecules. | Foods, muscles, electrical cells. |
| Kinetic | The energy of a moving object. | Runners, buses, comets. |
| Electrostatic | The energy stored when repelling charges have been moved closer together or when attracting charges have been pulled further apart. | Thunderclouds, Van De Graaff generators. |
| Elastic potential | The energy stored when an object is stretched or squashed. | Drawn catapults, compressed springs, inflated balloons. |
| Gravitational potential | The energy of an object at height. | Aeroplanes, kites, mugs on a table. |
| Nuclear | The energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. | Uranium nuclear power, nuclear reactors. |
| Energy store | Magnetic |
|---|---|
| Description | The energy stored when repelling poles have been pushed closer together or when attracting poles have been pulled further apart. |
| Examples | Fridge magnets, compasses, maglev trains which use magnetic levitation. |
| Energy store | Internal (thermal) |
|---|---|
| Description | The total kinetic and potential energy of the particles in an object, in most cases this is the vibrations – also known as the kinetic energy – of particles. In hotter objects, the particles have more internal energy and vibrate faster. |
| Examples | Human bodies, hot coffees, stoves or hobs. Ice particles vibrate slower, but still have energy. |
| Energy store | Chemical |
|---|---|
| Description | The energy stored in chemical bonds, such as those between molecules. |
| Examples | Foods, muscles, electrical cells. |
| Energy store | Kinetic |
|---|---|
| Description | The energy of a moving object. |
| Examples | Runners, buses, comets. |
| Energy store | Electrostatic |
|---|---|
| Description | The energy stored when repelling charges have been moved closer together or when attracting charges have been pulled further apart. |
| Examples | Thunderclouds, Van De Graaff generators. |
| Energy store | Elastic potential |
|---|---|
| Description | The energy stored when an object is stretched or squashed. |
| Examples | Drawn catapults, compressed springs, inflated balloons. |
| Energy store | Gravitational potential |
|---|---|
| Description | The energy of an object at height. |
| Examples | Aeroplanes, kites, mugs on a table. |
| Energy store | Nuclear |
|---|---|
| Description | The energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. |
| Examples | Uranium nuclear power, nuclear reactors. |
