Energy exists in many different forms. Examples of energy are: light energy, heat energy, mechanical energy, gravitational energy, electrical energy, sound energy, chemical energy, nuclear or atomic energy and so on.   Energy Conversion: When you stand on a diving board high above a swimming pool, you have gravitational potential energy. That's because you have the potential to fall toward Earth due to gravity. What happens when you jump off the diving board? Your gravitational potential energy changes to kinetic energy as you fall toward the water. However, you can regain your potential... Show more

Energy exists in many different forms. Examples of energy are: light energy, heat energy, mechanical energy, gravitational energy, electrical energy, sound energy, chemical energy, nuclear or atomic energy and so on.
 

Energy Conversion: When you stand on a diving board high above a swimming pool, you have gravitational potential energy. That's because you have the potential to fall toward Earth due to gravity. What happens when you jump off the diving board? Your gravitational potential energy changes to kinetic energy as you fall toward the water. However, you can regain your potential energy by getting out of the water and climbing back up to the diving board. This requires an input of kinetic energy. These changes in energy are examples of energy conversion, the process in which energy changes from one type or form to another. Energy conversion between potential and kinetic energy also occurs when you swing on a playground swing or jump on a trampoline.    
The law of conservation of energy applies to energy conversions. Energy is not used up when it changes form.    
However, some energy may be used to overcome friction, and this energy is usually given off as heat. For example, your kinetic energy at the bottom of a dive is the same as your potential energy when you were on the diving board, except for a small amount of heat resulting from friction with the air as you fell.    

Show less