Transformation of chemical energy
There is a basic law in science that energy cannot be created or
destroyed. What happens when a firework explodes in spectacular fashion
in the sky? It seems at first sight that everything disappears, except
for a charred case you might find on the ground. In fact, the energy
stored in the firework has been changed to other forms - it has been
transformed.
Identifying energy
transformations
Let's see if we can identify some of the energies involved in this transformation
sequence. From the moment the fuse is lit, thermal and light energy
are apparent, but this is minor compared with the energy about to be
released! With a whoosh, the whole thing is rocketed into the
sky, leaving a trail of sparks - sound, light and thermal energy. The
big explosion follows, with a thunder and crash of almost deafening
sound! Finally, a cascade of brilliant colours fall towards the ground,
with the remnant of the case.
So far you will have noticed at least four forms of energy: light,
sound, thermal and kinetic (energy of movement). Where does all this
energy come from? To answer this question, you need to go back to the
firework itself. It must have all of this energy stored, ready to be
released. It has great potential as you have seen, so this stored energy
is called potential energy.
Chemical energy at work
The type of potential energy stored in this case is more commonly
known as chemical energy. It is this stored energy that is finally transformed
into all the other forms of energy that go to make up the dramatic display.
All the materials in the Universe are made up of atoms, ions, molecules
or bits of atoms, most of them are fairly stable but some are readily
able to chemically react, releasing the energy stored in them.
Some of the chemical energy stored in the fireworks is converted to
kinetic energy to send the rocket skyward; some compresses the air rapidly,
producing sound and still more energy is transformed into light of many
colours.
Other chemical transformations
Chemicals like petrol and LPG have lots of stored chemical potential
energy that can propel cars, for example, by being transformed into
other forms of energy. An explosion increases the pressure of gas that
pushes pistons in the car engine (kinetic energy) then, by a series
of gears, turns the car's wheels, and moves the car forward. Again,
the chemical energy is transformed into thermal energy, sound and the
kinetic energy of movement.
An electric cell (battery) is another type of chemical energy store.
This time, it supplys energy to electrons. This stored electrical energy
can be transformed into sound, thermal, light or kinetic energy depending
on the components in the circuit. For example, a torch transforms electrical
energy to light energy, with some of the energy being "wasted"
as thermal energy - you can observe these effects if you touch a small
torch light globe that has been operating for a while. (Be careful -
mains light globes can get very hot indeed.)
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