Energy

Energy is the ability to do work and is abundant in our everyday life. Energy comes in many forms – thermal, radiant, kinetic, potential, electrical, chemical, nuclear or mechanical – and exists as a part of everything we do, from walking to school or sending astronauts into space. According to the law of conservation of energy , energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Energy can, however, be changed from one form to another.

Engineers apply their understanding of energy, including its principles and behavior, to solving real-world problems. This results in the design of everyday products such as cell phones, computer software, electronic music, batteries, radio and television broadcasting, or cameras.

Today’s engineers understand the need for renewable energy sources as the world’s energy consumption continues to grow with finite resources. They design methods to capture renewable energy sources – solar, hydro and wind power – to produce clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.