Energy and energy sources
Energy sources, how energy changes, and why we must save energy. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.
Know it already? Jump straight to the quiz
Energy changes
| Where | Change |
|---|---|
| A car drives | Chemical → movement |
| A light bulb | Electrical → light and heat |
| A torch | Chemical → electrical → light |
| A ball is thrown up | Movement → stored energy |
| A stretched spring | Elastic (stored) energy |
A phone gets warm while charging: some of the energy becomes heat. In a food chain the energy decreases at every level.
Comparing sources
| Source | Advantage | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | Renewable, clean | Does not work at night |
| Wind | Renewable and clean: it will not run out | Does not work when there is no wind |
| Coal | Lots of power | Pollutes the air badly; runs out |
| Nuclear | No smoke | Waste stays dangerous for very long |
| Geothermal | Heat from inside the Earth | Only in certain places |
Save energy
Most of our electricity comes from non-renewable sources. The best way to cut a home’s power use: insulate the geyser and the ceiling, and use LED lights.
Remember this and test yourself
- The Sun is the most important energy source; even the energy in food comes from the Sun.
- Fuel holds stored chemical energy; coal is non-renewable.
- Energy is never really lost: it only changes form (conservation of energy).
- A generator turns movement into electricity; a solar panel turns sunlight into electricity.
- An LED lamp makes less waste heat than an old filament bulb.
Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.
Energy is like money you exchange: it is never thrown away, only changed into another kind. The “small change” is mostly heat.
Important words
First say what the word means, then turn the card over.
Match column A to column B
Tap a word in column A, then its meaning in column B. You can also start in column B.
True or false?
Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.
Now the real quiz!
The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.
Take the quiz: Energy and energy sources- Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
- The ticks (“I know this”) are saved on this device only. We never ask for names or emails.
Follows CAPS for Grade 5 Natural Sciences and Technology. Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.