Category Archives: Energy

Continuing the series of student misconceptions that have been reported by the physics education research community, this post is about work and energy. Energy is an abstract concept. It cannot be seen, but the effect can be observed in everyday life. It is an idea that is readily accepted when one is first introduced toContinue reading “Student misconceptions about work and energy”

When I first learned about energy, I was introduced to different forms of energy, such as kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, chemical energy, heat energy, light, etc. I also learned about one of the important conservation laws – the conservation of energy.I did not consider energy conservation from the systems point of view. Perhaps itContinue reading “Energy and systems”

Energy is an abstract concept. We cannot see it, but we can utilize the concept to explain complex phenomena. For example, you work out, control your food intake, and lose weight over time.  Maybe this example is common sense to everyone that doesn’t really require the energy concept to explain it. The gist is youContinue reading “Thoughts on energy conversion”