Quiz

Units:

True or False?

Read each of these questions and decide if they are true or false.

Energy is found only in living objects.
Energy is a force.
Energy is associated only with movement.
Energy is all that is needed to cause things to
happen.
Energy is a fuel.
Energy is a substance or fluid.
Energy is created as the result of an activity.

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Answers

In strict scientific views, all of these statements are false. Below are explanations of why energy descriptions are wrong. These statements have been identified as the most common misconceptions students have about energy. Do you agree the statements are incorrect?

Energy educators strive to help students have a better understanding of energy to avoid these misconceptions. We continually look for ideas and strategies to effectively teach about energy accurately. Let us know if you have any suggestions.

Energy is found only in living objects.

This statement is not correct because everything has energy. The composition of an object or its placement determines what kind of energy it has (e.g., chemical, thermal, gravitational). Living things are unique in that they have the natural capacity to convert energy to another form from the food they consume.

Energy is a force.

A force is a push or a pull. Energy is needed to create the force, but it is not the force. A force, through movement, changes the state of energy in an object (e.g., from potential to kinetic energy).

Energy is associated only with movement.

Non-moving objects have potential energy.

Energy is all that is needed to cause things to
happen.

It is acceptable to say energy is needed for to lift an object or move things, but other conditions (such as force) are needed as well.

Energy is a fuel.

Fuel is a source of energy, but the fuel itself is not energy. Fuel is a resource, such as oil, coal, or foods that we eat. Fuel sources have potential energy in the chemical bonds that make up the substance.

Energy is a substance or fluid.

Energy exists as a state of matter. However, it is not matter itself (i.e., it does not have atomic or molecular structure, nor does it react or combine chemically with other types of matter). For example, steam, liquid water, and ice are all made of water molecules, but appear different because they each exhibit different states of energy.

Energy is created as the result of an activity.

Energy is transferred from one system to another as the result of an activity or process, such as generating electricity or eating food. However, no additional energy is ever created during an activity. Were this to be so, then energy could be created from nothing--which is not possible.