Questions: What Is Energy?

Question 1

Which of these is the best description of energy?

• A. Energy is a type of matter
• B. Energy is the ability to cause change or do work
• C. Energy is only found in batteries
• D. Energy is the same as force

Answer: (B)

Energy is defined as the ability to cause change — to move things, heat them up, light them up, or make sounds.

Question 2

A ball sitting at the top of a hill has energy even though it is not moving.

• T. True
• F. False

Answer: True

The ball has stored (potential) energy because of its height. If it rolls down the hill, that stored energy turns into motion energy.

Question 3

Name two different things that have energy.

Model answer: A moving car and the Sun (also acceptable: food, a battery, a stretched rubber band, wind, etc.).

Energy exists in many forms — motion, light, heat, stored chemical energy, and more. Almost everything around you has some form of energy.