The universe’s total amount of energy does not ever change, but the amount of this energy that is available to do work varies tremendously. What statement best explains the changes in available energy?(1 point)
Responses
100% of energy is always converted with perfect efficiency.
100% of energy is always converted with perfect efficiency.
Energy constantly changes from one form to another.
Energy constantly changes from one form to another.
Energy transfer always occurs through heat.
Energy transfer always occurs through heat.
The only way to create energy is through nuclear reactions.
The only way to create energy is through nuclear reactions.
Energy constantly changes from one form to another.
The statement that best explains the changes in available energy is: "Energy constantly changes from one form to another." This means that energy can be converted from one form to another, but it is not always converted with perfect efficiency.
The statement that best explains the changes in available energy is: "Energy constantly changes from one form to another."
To understand this, it's important to first understand the principle of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can only be transformed from one form to another.
In the universe, the total amount of energy remains constant. However, the available energy that can be used to do work varies greatly. This is because energy can be transformed into different forms, such as mechanical energy, thermal energy, electromagnetic energy, and more.
For example, consider a simple situation like a ball falling from a height. Initially, the ball has gravitational potential energy due to its height. As it falls, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, the energy of motion. When the ball hits the ground, some of this kinetic energy is converted into sound energy and thermal energy due to friction.
This example demonstrates how energy constantly changes from one form to another. It shows that energy is not always converted with perfect efficiency, as stated in one of the other options. Additionally, energy transfer can occur through various means, not just heat, as another option suggests. Lastly, while nuclear reactions can certainly create energy, they are not the only way, as energy can also be generated through chemical reactions, electromagnetic interactions, and other processes.
Therefore, the best statement to explain the changes in available energy is "Energy constantly changes from one form to another."