Energy Resources

Energy Resources

Introduction

As per the scientific definition of energy “It is a physical quantity that is observed indirectly and is basically an ability of a system or a body to do work.” According to its logical analysis, energy is something which enables an individual to do work. We are living in the era of machines and technology which require different kinds of energy for making them workable. The usual household mechanisms need electricity for making them work such as electricity is used to work them as energy. Similarly, vehicles require kinetic energy for moving. The resources through which the needed energy is generated are recognized as “Sources of Energy”. Naturally, all biological systems generate their energy directly or indirectly from the sun. In the process of photosynthesis, plants also utilize solar energy and produce carbohydrates. When herbivorous animals eat such plants then they get the energy and ultimately when carnivorous animals eat those herbivorous animals then they get energy from that way and the food chain persists.

Discussion

In order to do any work, an individual must requires some energy, and he/she cannot perform that in deprivation of energy. Energy is preserved in different systems which mean that it can neither be destroyed nor be created but it is certainly inter-exchangeable into its distinctive forms. Some of the different forms of energy, known as energy resources are mentioned below:

Solar Energy

Kinetic Energy

Potential Energy

Chemical Energy

Gravitational Energy

Electrical Energy

Heat Energy

Sound Energy

Nuclear Energy

Electromagnetic Energy

These energy resources may not all the time provide energy in the similar form we need, but in whatever form those are generated from the source then transformed by the agreed mechanisms and become a useful energy. For instance, the car engine is workable due to the fuel combustion i.e. the chemical energy which is released when the fuel is combusted. In the scenario of electricity that is produced from nuclear reactors, an enormous amount of heat releases through the chain reactions of radio-active uranium which helps in heating up the water of dams and a lot of steam is produced which helps in rotating the turbines and then electrical energy produced. Thus, for producing electricity, the nuclear energy is utilized from the uranium and makes it indirectly as electrical energy (Bilgen & Kaygusuz, 2004).

Types of Energy Resources

There are two main types of energy resources, i.e. Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources. The sources that may be restocked or that are naturally present in excess are known as Renewable energy resources, while the energy resources that are inadequate in availability are known as non-renewable resources. The more “environment-friendly” are Renewable energy resources as no any natural imbalances may be a reason of it. Acquisition and utilization of energy resources that are Non-Renewable cause disturbance and disrupt the environmental balance. Some Non-Renewable Energy Resources are Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, and Nuclear Energy, whereas, some Renewable Energy Resources are Sun (Solar Energy), Air (Wind Energy), Water (Hydro Electric Energy), Biomass (Alternative Fuels), Inner Earth Layers (Geothermal Energy), and ...