Energy Transformation is any process of transforming one form of energy to another.
Energy Transfer is the process of transfering energy from one body to another.
Energy is the ability to do work. It is one of the basic human needs and is an essential component in any development programme. The forms that energy exists are namely: heat, light, sound, electrical, chemical, nuclear and mechanical. These forms of energy may be transformed from one form to the other, usually with losses.
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Energy Transformation or energy conversion, is any process of transforming one form of energy into another. Energy of fossil fuels, solar radiation, or nuclear fuels can be converted into other energy forms such as electrical, propulsive, or heating that are more useful to people. Often, machines are used to transform energy. The efficiency of a machine characterizes how well (how efficiently) it can produce a useful output (such as work for example) through such a conversion. Energy transformations are important in the application of the energy concept in various natural sciences including biology, chemistry, geology and cosmology.
Energy may be transformed so that it may be used by other natural processes or machines, or else to provide some service to society (such as heat, light, or motion). For example, an internal combustion engine converts the potential chemical energy in gasoline and oxygen into the propulsive energy that moves a vehicle. A solar cell converts solar radiation into electrical energy that can then be used to light a bulb or power a computer. The generic name for a device which converts energy from one form to another is transducer.
Other energy conversions
There are many different machines that convert one energy form into another:
Fuel cells (Chemical energy → Electricity)
Geothermal power (Heat → Electricity)
Heat engines, such as the internal combustion engine used in cars or the steam engine (Heat → Electricity)
Hydroelectric dams (Mechanical energy → Electricity)
Lamp (Chemical energy → Heat and Light)
Microphone (Sound → Electricity)
Nuclear reactor (Nuclear energy → Electricity)
Ocean thermal power (Heat → Electricity)
Solar cells (Light → Electricity)
Solar thermal (Light → Heat)
Loudspeaker (Electricity → Sound)
Thermophotovoltaics (Heat → Electricity)
Steam engine (Heat → Mechanical energy)
Wave power (Mechanical energy → Electricity)
Windmills (Wind energy → Electricity or Mechanical energy)
Piezoelectrics (Sound
Electricity)
Energy Transfer
In physics, energy transfer describes the process of transferring energy from one body to another. In other words if you were to drop a book into a pool, the kinetic energy from this book will transfer into the water causing it to make a splash and creating waves. Some energy may also be transferred into the air in the form of sound.
In chemistry, the term may be used to describe the process of transferring vibrational energy from one molecule (or molecular domain) to another molecule (or molecular domain).