Related topics: energy



Energy transformation

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In physics, the term [energy] describes the amount of work which may potentially be done by forces within a system. Changes in energy in systems can only be accomplished by adding or subtracting energy from them, as energy is a quantity which is conserved. (Loosely, changes in the energy of systems also coincide with changes in the system's mass).

Energy in a system may be transformed so that it resides in a different state. Energy in many states may be used to do many varieties of physical work. Energy may be used in 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 heat, which is then transformed into the propulsive energy (kinetic 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.

For more information about Energy transformation, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with energy transfer

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Tiny nano-electromagnets turn a cloak of invisibility into a possibility

Physics / General Physics

created Dec 22, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (14) | comments 7

A team of researchers at the FOM institute AMOLF (The Netherlands) has succeeded for the first time in powering an energy transfer between nano-electromagnets with the magnetic field of light.


Switchable Nanostructures Made with DNA

Switchable Nanostructures Made with DNA

Nanotechnology / Bio & Medicine

created Dec 21, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (9) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have found a new way to use a synthetic form of DNA to control the assembly of nanoparticles — this time resulting ...


Scientists discover mechanism behind superinsulation

Scientists discover mechanism behind superinsulation

Physics / General Physics

created Dec 14, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (12) | comments 14

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have discovered the microscopic mechanism behind the phenomenon of superinsulation, the ability of certain materials ...


Looking for the heartbeat of cellular networks

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Dec 16, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Our cells' molecules form an intricate network of interactions. Today's techniques, however, can only be used to measure individual molecular reactions outside the cells. Since molecular concentrations are much higher in ...


Research shows power of FRET-based approach for distinguishing among distinct states of proteins

Medicine & Health / Research

created Nov 30, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

In the December 2009 issue of the Journal of General Physiology, Moss et al. report a comprehensive investigation employing Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to study the {gamma}-amino acid (GABA) transporter GAT1, ...