How can energy be converted from one form to another?
Energy can exist in many forms. Examples include light, heat, magnetic energy, compression energy, nuclear energy (stored in the mass of the nucleus), chemical energy (stored in chemical bonds), energy of motion, and electricity. In order to use energy, we must often convert it from one form to another. For example, when a candle burns, the chemical energy in the chemical bonds of the candle wax is converted to light (and heat). When a light bulb glows, the electrical energy is converted to light (and heat). A computer screen or a TV screen does this too. The laws of thermodynamics don’t allow a perfectly efficient transfer to be made; many times some energy is lost as heat. When an electric stove gets hot, electrical energy is being converted to heat (and some light). A toaster, a hair dryer, or a space heater are other examples of things that do this. A gas stove, on the other hand, converts chemical energy to heat. Most natural gas appliances do this, including water heaters, space
