Energy Concepts, Forms, Laws

Abstract

In a developed country, such as the United States, energy is a vital component in almost every phase of life. Consider the fuel consumed in modern transportation systems; in lighting and heating and air conditioning, at home and in the work place; the many appliances in the home which provide for the comforts of modern living; the operation of machinery and other equipment in the work place; and numerous other purposes. In the United States, more than 99 percent of work defined as mechanical work, which term includes essentially all physical labor, is performed by machines, all of which require energy for operation. Almost everything one does during the waking hours has energy involved in it somewhere.