Meaning & use
electrical energy
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablephysics
The energy carried by moving electric charges in a circuit, which can be changed into light, heat, sound or movement.
Grammar: Has no plural: the lamp changes electrical energy into light.
Patterns
- convert electrical energy into something
- electrical energy from something
A battery stores chemical energy and releases it as electrical energy.
The motor turns electrical energy into movement.
Power stations send electrical energy through cables to homes.
noununcountablephysicstechnical
The energy stored in an electric field, for example between the plates of a charged capacitor.
Grammar: Often described with stored or potential: the electrical energy stored in a capacitor.
Patterns
- electrical energy stored in something
A capacitor holds electrical energy until the circuit is closed.
The camera flash uses electrical energy stored in a capacitor.
More charge on the plates means more electrical energy in the system.
Common combinations
- convert into electrical energy
- Solar panels convert sunlight into electrical energy.
- transfer electrical energy
- Wires transfer electrical energy to the bulb.
- generate electrical energy
- Wind turbines generate electrical energy.
- store electrical energy
- Batteries store electrical energy for later use.
- use electrical energy
- A dishwasher uses electrical energy to heat the water.
Synonyms and how they differ
- electricity
- Electricity is the everyday word and includes the power supply itself, while electrical energy is the physics term for the energy it carries.
- electric power
- Electric power is the rate at which electrical energy is used, measured in watts, whereas electrical energy is the amount, measured in joules.
- current
- Current is the flow of charge in a circuit, whereas electrical energy is the total energy carried.
Word family
- electricity noun
- the power from moving charge that runs machines
- electrical adjective
- relating to electricity
- electric adjective
- powered by or producing electricity
- energy noun
- the capacity to do work
- electrically adverb
- by means of electricity
Commonly confused: electrical energy or electric power?
electrical energy vs electric power
Power is how fast energy is transferred, in watts; electrical energy is the total amount transferred, in joules or kilowatt-hours.
Practice
What energy change happens in an electric kettle?
Choose one answer.
A kettle takes electrical energy from the supply and turns it into heat in the water. The first option reverses the change, which is what a generator or thermocouple would do.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “electrical energy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.