Energy Forms and Changes

It can be difficult to understand how energy is transferred within a system and how it relates to what we see around us on a daily basis. That is, of course, unless you are shown a practical example that illustrates all these actions intuitively.

Energy Forms and Changes is a Java-based application that can serve as a useful educational tool for both teachers and parents. It is mostly aimed at younger children, and it can help them see how the transfer of energy affects their daily activities.

The “Intro” tab provides you with a few objects that can be used to demonstrate the effects of heating and cooling. You can place the bricks on the heater/cooler to warm them up or cool them down, and then place them in the water to see how the energy is transferred.

It is probably a good idea to enable the energy symbols to get a better idea of how everything works, and you can use the three thermometers to measure the temperature of any object.

In the second tab, you are given a few components that you can use to create a number of different energy systems. The application displays the multiple forms of energy using various colors.

On the left, you can add flowing water, sunlight, steam or a bicycle, which send energy to either a solar cell array or wheel. On the right, you can place a water heater and two types of light bulbs.

Energy Forms and Changes is a relatively simple piece of software that can prove invaluable for teachers or parents looking to introduce their children to the basic concepts of physics. It is easy to use and quite versatile to boot.