Sources of Energy

Energy is a property of matter and radiation, which allows it to cause change and perform work. Energy can take many different forms, such as heat, light, sound, electricity, and motion, and it can be transformed from one form to another.

Table of Contents:

• Sources of Energy
• Non-renewable Energy
• Renewable Sources of Energy
• Conventional and Non-Conventional Sources of Energy
• FAQs

Energy is what makes things happen, like moving a car, cooking food, or playing music. Energy is all around us, and it is essential for life and for many of the things we use and do every day.

Sources of Energy

The main sources of energy can be broadly classified into two categories: non-renewable and renewable energy sources.

1. Non-Renewable Energy

Non-renewable energy is a type of energy that is finite and will eventually run out. This means that the sources of non-renewable energy will be depleted over time as they are used, and will not be replenished in a human timescale.

Examples of non-renewable energy sources are:

• Coal: A black or brownish-black sedimentary rock that is primarily composed of carbon. It is burned to produce electricity.

• Oil (petroleum): A fossil fuel that is extracted from the ground and refined into gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum-based products.

• Natural Gas: A colorless, odorless, tasteless, and gaseous hydrocarbon that is extracted from underground deposits. It is used as a fuel for heating and cooking, and as a fuel for electricity generation.

• Nuclear Energy: Energy generated by the process of nuclear reactions, either through nuclear fission or fusion.

These energy sources are called “non-renewable” because they take millions of years to form and cannot be replenished in a short amount of time, unlike renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower.

2. Renewable Sources of Energy

Renewable energy is energy that is generated from natural resources that are replenished naturally and on a human timescale. Unlike non-renewable energy sources, renewable energy sources will not run out and they emit much lower amounts of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

Examples of renewable energy sources are:

• Solar Energy: Energy generated by the sun’s radiation. This can be harnessed using solar panels and used for electricity generation.

• Wind Energy: Energy generated by the movement of air, or wind. Wind turbines convert this energy into electricity.

• Hydro Energy: Energy generated by the movement of water, typically from rivers and dams.

• Geothermal Energy: Energy generated by the heat from the Earth’s core.

• Biomass Energy: Energy generated from organic material, such as plants and waste, through processes such as burning and fermentation.

• Tidal Energy: Energy generated by the movement of ocean tides, typically from tidal turbines in shallow water.

These sources of energy are called “renewable” because they are replenished naturally, and can be used repeatedly without running out. They play an important role in reducing the world’s dependence on finite and polluting sources of energy and in combating climate change.

Conventional and Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

Conventional energy sources are traditional forms of energy that have been used for many years and are widely accepted and used.

Examples of conventional energy sources are:

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

Nuclear energy generated by nuclear reactions through nuclear fission.

Hydropower generated by the movement of water in dams.

Non-conventional energy sources, on the other hand, are relatively new and emerging forms of energy that are still being developed and refined. They are often considered innovative and promising alternatives to conventional sources of energy.

Examples of non-conventional energy sources are:

Renewable energy sources such as wind, tidal, geothermal and solar energy.

Bioenergy generated from organic material such as plants and waste.

Ocean energy generated from the movement of ocean waves, currents and thermal gradients.

Fuel cells that use chemical reactions to generate electricity.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) that uses mirrors or lenses to focus and convert the sun’s radiation into heat.

Both conventional and non-conventional energy sources play an important role in meeting the world’s energy demand, but non-conventional sources are becoming increasingly important in reducing the world’s dependence on finite and polluting sources of energy and combating climate change.

Sources of Energy FAQS

Grade 7 Science Worksheets

• Elements and Compounds
• Solar Energy
• Photosynthesis
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Law of conservation of energy
• Periodic table
• Properties of Matter
• Waves
• Energy Resources 
• Weather and Climate
• Immune, Circulatory and Digestive Systems
• Organs in Multi-cellular Organism
• Sedimentary, Igneous, and Metamorphic Rocks
• Structure of the Earth
• Law of Conservation of Mass
• Physical and Chemical Changes
• Scientific Method
• Human Digestive System
• Environmental Science
• Renewable and Non-renewable energy Resources
• Characteristics of Living Organisms
• Life Science
• Earth and Space Science
• Solar Eclipse
• Heat Technology
• Newton’s Laws of Motions
• Physical Science
• Tools, Measurement and SI Units
• Earth Atmosphere
• Interactions of Living things
• The Earth Ecosystem
• Organelles in Plant and Animal cells
• Layers of the Earth
• Cycles in Nature

Grade 7 Math Worksheets

• Fractions
• Linear equations word problems
• Statistics
• Properties of Parallel Line 
• Finding slope from an equation
• Identifying Quadrilaterals
• Percent Change
• Properties of addition and multiplication
• Pythagorean Theorem
• Solving two step inequalities
• Symmetry
• Fractions to Decimals (New)
• Whole Number Exponents with Integer Bases (New)
• Adding and Subtracting Fractions (New)
• Integer Addition and Subtraction (New)
• Dividing Mixed Numbers (New)
• Basics of Coordinate Geometry (New)