Brooklyn College
City University of New York

Science at a Distance

topic

Biological Energy

This Bio-Module requires the use of the text book "Exploring Life" by Professor John Blamire.

The Words of Science

energy

The capacity to do work; measured in ergs and joules.
From the Greek words ergon, meaning work and the Greek prefix en-, meaning in it; literally work-in-it.

To a scientist, work is done when a force moves an object through a distance. Work, therefore has two component parts (1) the amount of pushing or pulling required to move the object (called force,), and (2) the amount of distance through which the object is moved. Any object, or substance, with the built in capacity to carry out this type of work is said to contain energy,. (For example, gasoline contains potential energy, as does a rock at the top of a hill).


Words of Science