What is the definition of energy?

In simplest terms, energy can be defined as the ability of a body to do some work. For example, flowing water in a river has energy which erodes land or is converted to electrical energy. The SI unit of energy is the joule (abbreviated as J). The most commonly used non-SI unit of energy is the calorie. 

There are several forms of energy that we encounter in our day to day life. These include

• potential...

In simplest terms, energy can be defined as the ability of a body to do some work. For example, flowing water in a river has energy which erodes land or is converted to electrical energy. The SI unit of energy is the joule (abbreviated as J). The most commonly used non-SI unit of energy is the calorie. 

There are several forms of energy that we encounter in our day to day life. These include

• potential energy: such as that of stored water behind a dam, which is used to generate electricity.


• kinetic energy: such as that of flowing water, which can result in floods and destruction of property, etc.


• electrical energy: is used to run a large number of appliances, such as laptops, water heaters, electrical vehicles, etc.


• mechanical energy: such as that used to grind grains (in watermills), or that used by us to walk, etc.


• chemical energy: stored in chemical reactions, such as that released during the breakdown of food in our body


• thermal energy: or heat energy, such as that generated when we burn fossil fuels to generate electricity or run our vehicles (for examples, gasoline or diesel to run cars, etc.).

There are several other forms of energy as well.

Hope this helps.