Energy can be converted between forms: chemical→electrical (batteries), electrical→mechanical (motors), mechanical→electrical (generators), gravitational→electrical (hydroelectric), chemical→thermal (combustion), nuclear→thermal (E=mc²), light→electrical (solar), electrical→light (LEDs).
Conversion calculators
Battery, motor, generator, hydro, combustion, nuclear, solar, LED
⚙️ Conversion visualization
| Conversion Type | Key Formula(s) | Example / Device |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical → Electrical | E = n F E° | Battery (simplified) |
| Electrical → Mechanical | P = τ ω | Electric motor (torque × angular speed) |
| Mechanical → Electrical | E = ½ m v² → electrical | Hydroelectric / wind turbine |
| Gravitational PE → Kinetic → Electrical | m g h → ½ m v² → electrical energy | Falling water in dam |
| Chemical → Thermal | Q = ΔH | Combustion / burning fuel |
| Nuclear → Thermal | E = Δm c² | Mass defect in fission/fusion |
| Light → Electrical | Efficiency η = P_out / P_in | Solar cell / photovoltaic |
| Electrical → Light | P = luminous efficacy × electrical power | LED / bulb (very approximate) |
About energy conversions
Energy conversions occur in everyday devices. Batteries convert chemical energy to electrical (E = n F E°). Motors convert electrical to mechanical (P = τ ω). Generators do the reverse, converting mechanical (KE = ½mv²) to electrical.
Renewable energy
Hydroelectric systems convert gravitational PE (mgh) to kinetic energy (½mv²), then to electrical. Wind turbines similarly convert wind KE to electrical energy.
Nuclear and solar
Nuclear reactions convert mass to energy via E = Δm c². Solar cells convert light to electrical with efficiency η = P_out / P_in. LEDs convert electrical power to light with luminous efficacy (lm/W).