energy

en·er·gy

E0141900 (ĕn′ər-jē)n. pl. en·er·gies 1. The capacity for work or vigorous activity: Who has the energy to climb that trail? See Synonyms at strength.2. a. also energies Exertion of vigor or power: a project requiring a great deal of time and energy; devoted her energies to writing songs.b. Vitality and intensity of expression: a speech delivered with energy and emotion.c. Informal A nonphysical force or quality perceived as inhering in a particular place, person, or situation: was turned off by the group's negative energy.3. a. Usable heat or power: Each year Americans consume a high percentage of the world's energy.b. A source of usable power, such as petroleum or coal.4. Physics a. The capacity of a physical system to do work.b. A form, amount, or level of this capacity: "a searing beam of 30 trillion protons, with energies up to 50 million electronvolts" (Science News).

[French énergie, from Late Latin energīa, from Greek energeia, from energos, active : en-, in, at; see en-² + ergon, work; see werg- in Indo-European roots.]

energy

(ˈɛnədʒɪ) n, pl -gies1. intensity or vitality of action or expression; forcefulness2. capacity or tendency for intense activity; vigour3. vigorous or intense action; exertion4. (General Physics) physics a. the capacity of a body or system to do workb. a measure of this capacity, expressed as the work that it does in changing to some specified reference state. It is measured in joules (SI units). Symbol: E 5. a source of power. See also kinetic energy, potential energy[C16: from Late Latin energīa, from Greek energeia activity, from energos effective, from en-² + ergon work]

en•er•gy

(ˈɛn ər dʒi)

n., pl. -gies. 1. the capacity for vigorous activity; available power. 2. a feeling of having an adequate or abundant amount of such power. 3. Often energies. an exertion of such power; effort: threw her energies into the job. 4. the habit of vigorous activity; vigor. 5. the ability to act, lead others, or effect things forcefully. 6. forcefulness of expression. 7. Physics. the capacity to do work. Symbol: E 8. a source of usable power, as fossil fuel or electricity. [1575–85; < Late Latin energīa < Greek enérgeia activity <energe- (s. of energeîn to be in action, operate =en- en-² + -ergeîn, derivative of érgos work) + -ia -y³]

en·er·gy

(ĕn′ər-jē)1. The capacity or power to do work, such as the capacity to move an object (of a given mass) in a given direction by the application of force. Energy can exist in a variety of forms, such as electrical, mechanical, chemical, thermal, or nuclear, and can be transformed from one form to another. It is measured by the amount of work done, usually in joules or watts. See more at law of conservation of energy. Compare power, work.2. Usable heat or power: The school consumed too much energy last year.

Energy

See Also: ACTIVENESS, BUSYNESS, ENTHUSIASM

Adrenaline bubbling in my veins like grease in a deep fryer —T. Coraghessan Boyle
Adrenaline flooded through me like water through a storm drain —Sue Grafton
Adrenaline flowing like electricity —W. P. Kinsella
Alger-like energy —Hortense Calisher
As brisk as a bee in a tar-pot —Thomas Fuller
The condensed version of this, “Brisk as a bee,” can be traced back to Boswell’s Life of Dr. Johnson, where it was used to describe someone’s conversational style. A variation (also from Fuller’s collection of aphorisms) is, “As brisk as a body louse.”
Bracing as an Alpine breeze —Israel Zangwill
(Suddenly this spring he’s) bursting with energy, like the daffodils on the White House lawn —James Reston about Ronald Reagan, New York Times, March 30, 1986
Electricity dripping from me like cream —Diane Wakoski
Energetic and tireless … like a shouting insect, some kind of queen aunt —J. B. Priestly
Energetic … an explosion of vitality, rather like a teapot set not to boil over but to bubble and steam —Charles Johnson
(Feeling as) energetic as a licensed jester —Clarence Major
Energy burned off him like a light —Pat Conroy
(Quick, incisive) energy like quicksilver in the veins —Joan Chase
Energy … like the biblical grain of mustard-seed, will remove mountains —Hosea Ballou
Energy sings like a tea kettle —Marge Piercy
Energy … thin and sharp like gravy —Diane Wakoski
Full of pep as an electric fan —Anon
(Little Billie was full of piss and vinegar and) full of sap as a maple tree —Robert Penn Warren
In Warren’s long poem, The Ballad of Billie Potts, the maple tree comparison is followed by another simile: “And full of tricks as a lop-eared pup.”
Full of vitality … like a lighted candle —Rachel Ingalls
Had a brisk air of bristle, like a terrier bitch —Angela Carter
He’s like 220 pounds worth of Duracell batteries —Mike Jameson, commenting on the untiring energy of boxer Mike Tyson, quoted in Newsday column by Paul Ballot, December 27, 1986
Hum with unspent power, like a machine left to run —Mary Gordon
(He is) just like a blob of mercury —Alice James writing from Europe about her brother William to her father and her brother Henry in America, 1889
Like an old volcano, which has pretty nearly used up its fire and brimstone, but is still boiling and bubbling —Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Like the grass and trees and other growing things, they were quivering and glistening with vitality —Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Refreshing, like rain at the end of a muggy day —Jay Mclnerney
Rings with vitality, like ax-strokes on oak —Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Sparks and twinkles like a jarred lightning bug —Sharon Sheehe Stark
The comparison refers to a lively four-year-old girl in a story entitled The Johnstown Polka.
Vigorous as a run-over cat —Marge Piercy
Vitality … like a hot flame that burnt him with an unendurable fury —W. Somerset Maugham
(She had a) vitality that warmed you like a blazing fire —W. Somerset Maugham
Warm with life as the waters of a tropic sea —Beryl Markham

energy

The capacity for doing work.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	energy - (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs; "energy can take a wide variety of forms"free energynatural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics"physical phenomenon - a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energyactivation energy, energy of activation - the energy that an atomic system must acquire before a process (such as an emission or reaction) can occur; "catalysts are said to reduce the energy of activation during the transition phase of a reaction"alternative energy - energy derived from sources that do not use up natural resources or harm the environmentatomic energy, nuclear energy - the energy released by a nuclear reactionbinding energy, separation energy - the energy required to separate particles from a molecule or atom or nucleus; equals the mass defectchemical energy - that part of the energy in a substance that can be released by a chemical reactionelectrical energy, electricity - energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor; "they built a car that runs on electricity"energy level, energy state - a definite stable energy that a physical system can have; used especially of the state of electrons in atoms or molecules; "according to quantum theory only certain energy levels are possible"rest energy - the energy equivalent to the mass of a particle at rest in an inertial frame of reference; equal to the rest mass times the square of the speed of lightwork - (physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force; "work equals force times distance"heat, heat energy - a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperaturemechanical energy - energy in a mechanical formradiant energy - energy that is transmitted in the form of (electromagnetic) radiation; energy that exists in the absence of matterradiation - energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles
	2.	energy - forceful exertion; "he plays tennis with great energy"; "he's full of zip"vigor, vigour, zipforcefulness, strength, force - physical energy or intensity; "he hit with all the force he could muster"; "it was destroyed by the strength of the gale"; "a government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man"athleticism, strenuosity - intense energy; "his music is characterized by a happy athleticism"
	3.	energy - enterprising or ambitious drive; "Europeans often laugh at American energy"get-up-and-go, pushdrive - the trait of being highly motivated; "his drive and energy exhausted his co-workers"second wind - renewed energy or strength to continue an undertaking; "She had dinner and got a second wind to finish painting"; "the employers, initially taken by surprise at the pace of developments, regained their second wind"
	4.	energy - an imaginative lively style (especially style of writing); "his writing conveys great energy"; "a remarkable muscularity of style"vim, muscularity, vigor, vigoursprightliness, liveliness, spirit, life - animation and energy in action or expression; "it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it"verve, vitality - an energetic style
	5.	energy - a healthy capacity for vigorous activity; "jogging works off my excess energy"; "he seemed full of vim and vigor"vim, vitalitygood health, healthiness - the state of being vigorous and free from bodily or mental diseasejuice - energetic vitality; "her creative juices were flowing"chi, ch'i, ki, qi - the circulating life energy that in Chinese philosophy is thought to be inherent in all things; in traditional Chinese medicine the balance of negative and positive forms in the body is believed to be essential for good health
	6.	energy - any source of usable power; "the DOE is responsible for maintaining the energy policy"physical phenomenon - a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy
	7.	Energy - the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the United States; created in 1977Department of Energy, DOE, Energy Departmentexecutive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United StatesDepartment of Energy Intelligence, DOEI - an agency that collects political and economic and technical information about energy matters and makes the Department of Energy's technical and analytical expertise available to other members of the Intelligence Community

energy

noun1. strength, might, force, power, activity, intensity, stamina, exertion, forcefulness He was saving his energy for the big race in Belgium.2. liveliness, life, drive, fire, spirit, determination, pep, go (informal), zip (informal), vitality, animation, vigour, verve, zest, resilience, welly (slang), get-up-and-go (informal), élan, brio, vivacity, vim (slang) At 65 years old, her energy and looks are wonderful.3. power Oil shortages have brought an energy crisis.

energy

nounCapacity or power for work or vigorous activity:animation, force, might, potency, power, puissance, sprightliness, steam, strength.Informal: get-up-and-go, go, pep, peppiness, zip.

Translations

能量干劲活力精力能

energy

(ˈenədʒi) – plural ˈenergies – noun1. the ability to act, or the habit of acting, strongly and vigorously. He has amazing energy for his age; That child has too much energy; I must devote my energies to gardening today. 活力，干劲，能力 2. the power, eg of electricity, of doing work. electrical energy; nuclear energy. 能，能量 ˌenerˈgetic (-ˈdʒetik) adjective1. vigorous; very active. an energetic child.精力旺盛的2. requiring energy. an energetic walk.需要能量的ˌenerˈgetically adverb精力旺盛地

energy

→ 精力zhCN, 能量zhCN

energy

energy,

in physics, the ability or capacity to do work or to produce change. Forms of energy include heatheat,
nonmechanical energy in transit, associated with differences in temperature between a system and its surroundings or between parts of the same system. Measures of Heat
..... Click the link for more information. , lightlight,
visible electromagnetic radiation. Of the entire electromagnetic spectrum, the human eye is sensitive to only a tiny part, the part that is called light. The wavelengths of visible light range from about 350 or 400 nm to about 750 or 800 nm.
..... Click the link for more information. , soundsound,
any disturbance that travels through an elastic medium such as air, ground, or water to be heard by the human ear. When a body vibrates, or moves back and forth (see vibration), the oscillation causes a periodic disturbance of the surrounding air or other medium that
..... Click the link for more information. , electricityelectricity,
class of phenomena arising from the existence of charge. The basic unit of charge is that on the proton or electron—the proton's charge is designated as positive while the electron's is negative.
..... Click the link for more information. , and chemical energy. Energy and work are measured in the same units—foot-pounds, joules, ergs, or some other, depending on the system of measurement being used. When a forceforce,
commonly, a "push" or "pull," more properly defined in physics as a quantity that changes the motion, size, or shape of a body. Force is a vector quantity, having both magnitude and direction.
..... Click the link for more information. acts on a body, the work performed (and the energy expended) is the product of the force and the distance over which it is exerted.

Potential and Kinetic Energy

Potential energy is the capacity for doing work that a body possesses because of its position or condition. For example, a stone resting on the edge of a cliff has potential energy due to its position in the earth's gravitational field. If it falls, the force of gravity (which is equal to the stone's weight; see gravitationgravitation,
the attractive force existing between any two particles of matter. The Law of Universal Gravitation

Since the gravitational force is experienced by all matter in the universe, from the largest galaxies down to the smallest particles, it is often called
..... Click the link for more information. ) will act on it until it strikes the ground; the stone's potential energy is equal to its weight times the distance it can fall. A charge in an electric field also has potential energy because of its position; a stretched spring has potential energy because of its condition. Chemical energy is a special kind of potential energy; it is the form of energy involved in chemical reactions. The chemical energy of a substance is due to the condition of the atoms of which it is made; it resides in the chemical bonds that join the atoms in compound substances (see chemical bondchemical bond,
mechanism whereby atoms combine to form molecules. There is a chemical bond between two atoms or groups of atoms when the forces acting between them are strong enough to lead to the formation of an aggregate with sufficient stability to be regarded as an
..... Click the link for more information. ).

Kinetic energy is energy a body possesses because it is in motion. The kinetic energy of a body with mass m moving at a velocity v is one half the product of the mass of the body and the square of its velocity, i.e., KE = 1-2mv². Even when a body appears to be at rest, its atoms and molecules are in constant motion and thus have kinetic energy. The average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules is measured by the temperaturetemperature,
measure of the relative warmth or coolness of an object. Temperature is measured by means of a thermometer or other instrument having a scale calibrated in units called degrees. The size of a degree depends on the particular temperature scale being used.
..... Click the link for more information. of the body.

The difference between kinetic energy and potential energy, and the conversion of one to the other, is demonstrated by the falling of a rock from a cliff, when its energy of position is changed to energy of motion. Another example is provided in the movements of a simple pendulum (see harmonic motionharmonic motion,
regular vibration in which the acceleration of the vibrating object is directly proportional to the displacement of the object from its equilibrium position but oppositely directed.
..... Click the link for more information. ). As the suspended body moves upward in its swing, its kinetic energy is continuously being changed into potential energy; the higher it goes the greater becomes the energy that it owes to its position. At the top of the swing the change from kinetic to potential energy is complete, and in the course of the downward motion that follows the potential energy is in turn converted to kinetic energy.

Conversion and Conservation of Energy

It is common for energy to be converted from one form to another; however, the law of conservation of energy, a fundamental law of physics, states that although energy can be changed in form it can be neither created nor destroyed (see conservation lawsconservation laws,
in physics, basic laws that together determine which processes can or cannot occur in nature; each law maintains that the total value of the quantity governed by that law, e.g., mass or energy, remains unchanged during physical processes.
..... Click the link for more information. ). The theory of relativity shows, however, that mass and energy are equivalent and thus that one can be converted into the other. As a result, the law of conservation of energy includes both mass and energy.

Many transformations of energy are of practical importance. Combustioncombustion,
rapid chemical reaction of two or more substances with a characteristic liberation of heat and light; it is commonly called burning. The burning of a fuel (e.g., wood, coal, oil, or natural gas) in air is a familiar example of combustion.
..... Click the link for more information. of fuels results in the conversion of chemical energy into heat and light. In the electric storage batterybattery, electric,
device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy, consisting of a group of electric cells that are connected to act as a source of direct current.
..... Click the link for more information. chemical energy is converted to electrical energy and conversely. In the photosynthesisphotosynthesis
, process in which green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria utilize the energy of sunlight to manufacture carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll. Some of the plants that lack chlorophyll, e.g.
..... Click the link for more information. of starch, green plants convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy. Hydroelectric facilities convert the kinetic energy of falling water into electrical energy, which can be conveniently carried by wires to its place of use (see power, electricpower, electric,
energy dissipated in an electrical or electronic circuit or device per unit of time. The electrical energy supplied by a current to an appliance enables it to do work or provide some other form of energy such as light or heat.
..... Click the link for more information. ). The force of a nuclear explosion results from the partial conversion of matter to energy (see nuclear energynuclear energy,
the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom and released through fission, fusion, or radioactivity. In these processes a small amount of mass is converted to energy according to the relationship E = mc², where E is energy, m
..... Click the link for more information. ).

Energy

The ability of one system to do work on another system. There are many kinds of energy: chemical energy from fossil fuels, electrical energy distributed by a utility company, radiant energy from the Sun, and nuclear energy from a reactor. The units of energy include ergs, joules, foot-pounds, and foot-poundals. Work and heat have the same units as energy, but are entirely different physical concepts. See Heat, Work

Any particle or system of particles subject to conservative forces has two kinds of energy, potential energy and kinetic energy. Potential energy is the energy due to position or configuration, and kinetic energy is the energy due to motion.

Energy is conserved for all isolated mechanical systems. This is because if a system A is isolated, there is no other system B that it can give any energy to, and its total energy must remain constant. This system A can convert kinetic energy to potential energy, and it can convert one form of potential energy to another, but the total energy must remain the same. The meaning of conserved total energy is that the system has the same value of total energy at all times. See Conservation of energy

In 1905 A. Einstein showed that at high velocities near the speed of light important modifications must be made in physical concepts. One particularly radical idea which he advanced was that space and time are not independent, but rather are two aspects of the same object, a space-time manifold. This necessitated a reexamination of the concept of energy and led to the conclusion that the inertia, or mass m, depends upon its energy through the mass-energy relation shown below, where c is the speed of light in vacuum. Furthermore, energy and momentum conservation become joined in a single four-momentum conservation law in special relativity. See Internal energy, Relativity

energy

Symbol: E . A measure of the capacity of a body or system for doing work, i.e. for changing the state of another body or system. The SI unit of energy is the joule; the erg (10^–7 joule) is also used. There are various forms of energy including mechanical, electrical, nuclear, and radiant energy, all of which are interconvertible in the presence of matter. Mass is also regarded as a form of energy. In any closed system, the total energy, including mass, is always constant. See also conservation of mass-energy; kinetic energy; potential energy.

Energy

A resource such as oil, gas or coal from which usable energy can be produced; there are many alternative forms of energy that can be used to produce power.

blue energy

Called osmotic energy, it is generated from a chemical reaction between freshwater and seawater. It can either be installed near a saltwater resource or operated independently using stored water.

fuel cell energy

A kind of battery that produces electricity from the reaction between an externally supplied fuel and an oxidant, in the presence of an electrolyte. Fuel cells generate but do not store energy, and they can provide nonstop, continuous operation as long as the required energy flow is maintained. For home use they provide clean, renewable energy and do not need distribution lines. Small-size home fuel cell units produce heat as a by-product, which can then be used as a cogeneration system for domestic hot water and space heating. Fuel cells can be used in conjunction with power grid systems or used independently as an off-the-grid system in remote areas.

geothermal energy

Produced by using the heat below the earth’s surface. Geothermal heat pumps are necessary for residential use; for commercial use, power plants are built on the surface to convert geothermal energy into electricity.

hybrid systems

A method that uses two or more distinct power sources to run a device, such as an on-board rechargeable energy storage system with a fueled power source internal combustion engine or fuel cell, air and internal combustion engines, and photovoltaic modules and wind turbines with electric power.

hydroenergy

Generated from the force of moving water, but a renewable energy resource that usually requires large installations, such as dammed water, to drive a water turbine and generator. There are small, mobile hydrogenerators available for individual home use.

solar photovoltaic

A nonmechanical device that converts sunlight into electricity. Consists of photovoltaic cells, mounting hardware, electrical connections, power-conditioning equipment, and an energy storage device. Individual cells can be grouped into modules to form larger collectors, which can in turn be further grouped into photovoltaic arrays, necessary for industrial-level electricity production. The number and size of the modules can vary depending on the availability and intensity of the sunlight, the geographical location of the modules, and the user’s needs.

solar thermal

Uses sunlight to create heat, but needs water to operate. Once solar thermal devices receive sunlight, they concentrate the light and generate heat. The generated heat warms the water, which can either be circulated and used directly, or can be used to drive a turbine that generates electricity. There are three types of solar thermal systems: parabolic troughs, parabolic dishes, and power towers.

wind energy

Wind energy turns a windmill’s blades on a rotor that is connected to a main shaft. The main shaft spins a generator, producing energy. The amount of energy generated depends on the speed and direction of the wind. One drawback is proximity of the wind generation facilities to the distribution centers and/or to the homes served, which affects the quality and cost of the energy.

Energy

a general quantitative measure of motion and interaction of all forms of matter. Energy in nature is neither created nor destroyed; it is only converted from one form to another. The concept of energy unifies all natural processes.

Different forms of energy are differentiated in correspondence with the various forms of the motion of matter, for example, mechanical, electromagnetic, and nuclear energy. This subdivision is somewhat arbitrary. Thus, chemical energy comprises the kinetic energy of the motion of electrons and the electric energy of the interaction of electrons with one another and with atomic nuclei. Internal energy is equal to the sum of the kinetic energy of the random motion of molecules relative to the center of mass of bodies and the potential energies of the interaction of molecules with one another. The energy of a system is uniquely determined by the parameters that characterize the state of the system. In the case of a continuous medium or field, additional concepts are introduced: energy density (energy per unit volume) and energy flux density (the product of the energy density and the rate of its displacement).

According to the theory of relativity, the energy E of a body is related to its mass m by the expression E = mc², where c is the velocity of light in a vacuum. Any body has energy. If m₀ is the mass of a body at rest, then its rest energy is E₀ = m₀c²; this energy may be converted to other forms of energy in particle transformations (for example, decays and nuclear reactions).

According to classical physics, the energy of any system changes continuously and can take on any values. According to quantum theory, the energy of microparticles moving in a bounded region of space—for example, electrons in atoms— takes on a discrete series of values. Atoms emit electromagnetic energy in the form of discrete batches, called light quanta, or photons (seePHOTON and QUANTUM MECHANICS).

Energy is measured in the same units as work: in ergs in the cgs system and in joules in the International System of Units (SI). In atomic and nuclear physics and the physics of elementary particles, a subsidiary unit, the electron volt, is ordinarily used.

G. IA. MIAKISHEV

energy

[′en·ər·jē] (physics) The capacity for doing work.

energy

The capacity to do work; the amount of work that a system is capable of doing.

energy

Physicsa. the capacity of a body or system to do work b. a measure of this capacity, expressed as the work that it does in changing to some specified reference state. It is measured in joules (SI units).

energy

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Energy

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brown energy

bundle of energy

a waste of energy

unavailable energy

big dick energy

energy

energy,

Potential and Kinetic Energy

Conversion and Conservation of Energy

Energy

energy

Energy

blue energy

fuel cell energy

geothermal energy

hybrid systems

hydroenergy

solar photovoltaic

solar thermal

wind energy

Energy

energy

energy

energy

energy

energy

en·er·gy (E),

energy

en·er·gy

energy

energy

en·er·gy

Patient discussion about energy

Energy

Energy

Further readings

Cross-references

energy

Synonyms for energy

noun strength

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noun liveliness

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noun power

Synonyms

Synonyms for energy

noun capacity or power for work or vigorous activity

Synonyms

Synonyms for energy

noun (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work

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Related Words

noun forceful exertion

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noun enterprising or ambitious drive

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noun an imaginative lively style (especially style of writing)

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noun a healthy capacity for vigorous activity

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noun any source of usable power

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noun the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the United States

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