Book 22, Question 19 · Video
Do Rocks and Mountains Have Energy?
A rock sitting on the ground looks completely still. But does it have energy? The answer is yes! Even a cold rock holds lots of thermal energy because its atoms never stop moving.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Do rocks and mountains have energy?
The Big Idea
A rock sitting on the ground looks completely still. But does it have energy? The answer is yes!
High Rocks
Step one: high rocks. A rock sitting on a cliff has stored energy because it is high up. If it fell, that energy would turn into motion.
Jiggling Inside
Step two: jiggling inside. The rocks in the ground have thermal energy because their tiny particles are jiggling. Even a rock that looks perfectly still is full of tiny motions.
Sun Heats Rocks
Step three: the Sun heats rocks. If a rock is heated by the Sun, light energy changes into thermal energy. That is why a dark rock in the sun feels warm.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! A rock on a cliff stores energy. Its atoms keep jiggling. Sunlight can warm it up. Even a cold rock holds heat.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Even a cold rock holds lots of thermal energy because its atoms never stop moving. A rock on a cliff also has stored energy because of its height. Sunlight can change into heat inside a rock. So every rock is full of energy.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Put a dark rock in sunlight for an hour. Then touch it carefully. Notice how it feels. What kind of energy did it gain? Write down what you notice, and share it with a grown-up.
Outro
Rocks and mountains hold energy as height and as the jiggling of tiny particles. Science is amazing! Stay curious! There is always more to discover, and you are a great science explorer! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!