Assignment - Infographics - 151
A Note on What Makes This an Infographic
Listing eight types of energy with one-line definitions is a science glossary. An infographic about energy tells the story that connects them: energy is always the same thing in different disguises, constantly converting from one form to another, never disappearing. A student who finishes your infographic should understand not just what kinetic or potential energy is, but how a single piece of food can become movement, heat, and sound by the time it reaches a running child.
Objective
Create a narrative infographic in Canva that categorizes the main forms of energy, explains what each one is through real-life examples, and shows how energy transforms between forms - anchored by the law of conservation of energy.
Content to Cover
Opening Anchor: What is Energy?
Energy is the ability to do work - to cause change. It cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be converted from one form to another. This is the Law of Conservation of Energy.
The Main Forms of Energy
For each form, include a definition and a concrete real-life example:
Kinetic Energy - The energy of motion. Any moving object has kinetic energy. The faster it moves and the greater its mass, the more kinetic energy it has. Examples: a moving car, a flying cricket ball, water flowing in a river.
Potential Energy - Stored energy that can be released. Types:
- Gravitational potential energy: stored because of height. A book on a shelf has gravitational potential energy - it falls when pushed. Water behind a dam has it.
- Elastic potential energy: stored in a stretched or compressed object. A stretched rubber band or a compressed spring.
- Chemical potential energy: stored in chemical bonds. Food, fuel, batteries.
Thermal Energy (Heat) - The total kinetic energy of particles in a substance. Hotter objects have more thermal energy because their particles move faster. Examples: a burning stove, a hot cup of tea, the sun’s warmth.
Electrical Energy - Energy carried by moving electric charges. Examples: electricity powering a fan, a phone charging, lightning.
Light Energy (Radiant Energy) - Energy carried by electromagnetic waves. Examples: sunlight, a torch, a screen’s glow. Plants capture light energy in photosynthesis.
Sound Energy - Energy carried by sound waves through a medium. Examples: a drum being struck, a voice, traffic noise.
Nuclear Energy - Energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. Released by fission (splitting) or fusion (joining). Examples: nuclear power plants, the sun (fusion).
Energy Transformations
This is the narrative heart of the infographic. Show a chain of transformations using arrows:
Example chain: eating food → running Chemical energy (food) → Thermal energy (body heat) + Kinetic energy (muscle movement) + Sound energy (footsteps)
Other transformation examples:
- Solar panel: Light energy → Electrical energy
- Hydroelectric dam: Gravitational potential energy → Kinetic energy (moving water) → Electrical energy
- Phone: Chemical energy (battery) → Electrical energy → Light energy + Sound energy
The Conservation Principle
Add a final panel: in every transformation, the total amount of energy stays the same. Some energy is lost as heat (thermal energy) - this is why machines are not 100% efficient. But no energy disappears.
Design in Canva
- Eight energy form panels arranged in a circle or grid, each with an icon and real-world example.
- A central transformation diagram showing arrows between forms.
- The conservation principle in a highlighted box.
- Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) for thermal and kinetic; cool colors (blue, green) for potential and electrical.
Required Elements
- All 7 major energy forms with definitions and examples.
- At least 3 energy transformation chains with arrows.
- The Law of Conservation of Energy stated clearly.
- Title: “Energy and Its Forms.”