The eight types of energy are: thermal, light, electrical, chemical, mechanical, gravitational, sound and nuclear.

Go outside and look around you. You can see and hear activity all around you. The wind rustles the leaves on the trees. You feel the warmth of the sun. You might see cars and bicycles move by. People are moving, talking, working, and playing. All of these activities require energy. Energy is the ability to do work. Energy causes changes in matter.

Energy is required for life. All of the green plants that you see get their energy directly from the sun, they transform the sun's energy into forms of energy that your body can use. All of the animals that you see get their energy from the sun or from other organisms that get their energy from the sun.