What Is Energy?

• Energy is defined as the ability to do work. In other words, it is the ability to make something happen.

• Energy is different to matter. It is not composed of particles and, therefore, it has no mass and cannot been seen.

• The effects of energy, however, can be observed and measured.

• For example, energy can make objects move, heat up objects or produce light and sound.

• Energy, therefore, is measured based on how much work is being done or how much work could potentially be done.

• Energy comes in many forms. The two main categories of energy are kinetic energy, which is active energy, and potential energy, which is inactive energy.

• The units for measuring energy are called joules, which have the symbol J.

Energy is the ability to make something happen.

(Images: tkyszk, Adobe Stock; Pixel-Shot, Adobe Stock; Dusan Kostic, Adobe Stock)