Energy can be classified into nine types based on the source of that energy. These types are mechanical, thermal, acoustic, electrical, magnetic, radiant, chemical, nuclear, and mass energy. Other classifications of energy are possible.
Gravitational potential energy (GPE), a type of mechanical potential energy, is proportional to an object's weigh and its position above a zero reference height(GPE=wh=mgh). This height is usually assumed to be the ground or floor.
Radiant energy, or electromagnetic energy, consists of the self-sustaining interaction of electric and magnetic fields. It can be transmitted through a vacuum or radiated by matter.
The efficiency of energy transformation can be measured by comparing the amount of usable energy produced with the amount available before the transformation.
According to the law of conservation of energy, energy can never be created or destroyed, only changed from one form into another. This principle is also known as the first law of thermodynamics.
There are three type of collisions-elastic collisions, partially elastic collisions, and inelastic collisions. All collisions conserve energy, but usually not mechanical energy.
An elastic collision occurs when two objects collide and rebound so that the sum of their kinetic energy is the same before and after the collision. Elastic collisions are the only type of collision that conserves kinetic energy.
A partially elastic collisions occurs when one or both colliding objects expend some of the initial kinetic energy as they are deformed during the collision. Partially elastic collisions conserve momentum but do not conserve kinetic energy.
An inelastic collision occurs when colliding objects stick together after the collision. Most or all of the initial kinetic energy may be converted to other forms of energy.