How energy changes form
In daily life we mainly use four kinds of energy: heat, mechanical (motion), electrical and light. Energy is never lost: it changes from one kind into another or passes from one object to another. In a desk lamp electrical energy becomes light. In a fan electricity becomes motion. In a car the energy in fuel becomes motion. In a solar panel sunlight becomes electricity. In a telephone sound becomes electricity and then sound again.
Experiment “Energy is passed on”: lay a ruler (or two cardboard strips) on the table as a track and place a row of 5 marbles or coins touching one another. Roll one marble in from the end and hit the row. What happens? The marble at the other end shoots away: energy passed along the row. Then “Energy detectives”: name 5 appliances and find which energy changes into which. Safety: do not put marbles in your mouth.