What Is Energy?
What Is Energy? — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
Layla watched the other gymnasts practice their floor routines at Everett Middle School. She saw Nadia launch herself into the air for a cartwheel. "Coach Rivera," Layla asked, tugging on his sleeve, "how does Nadia get so much power to do that flip? Where does all that force come from?"
Page 2
Coach Rivera chuckled. "That's a great question, Layla. I've been wondering about this too." Yuto, who was stretching nearby, overheard them. "It's like when I kick a soccer ball," Yuto said. "The ball goes flying, but what makes it move in the first place? Is that what you mean by 'force', Layla?" Layla nodded, "Yeah! What is energy, anyway?"
Page 3
Layla imagined a scientist in his study, surrounded by books and papers. The narrator echoed Layla's thoughts, "England, 1665. A quiet garden near Cambridge University. A young man is pondering the nature of motion..." Layla thought, 'Energy must have something to do with how things move...but how did people figure that out?'
Page 4
The scientist was Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most influential scientists of all time. He was born on Christmas Day in 1642. Besides his work on motion, he also developed calculus! Newton wasn't just a scientist; he also served as Warden of the Royal Mint later in his life.
Page 5
One day, Newton was sitting in his garden when he saw an apple fall from a tree. He thought, "Why does the apple always fall straight down?" He famously said, "'If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.' I am going to see how things fall and move."
Page 6
Newton realized that the same force pulling the apple down was also keeping the Moon in orbit around the Earth! He called this force gravity. He discovered that objects resist changes in motion—this resistance is called inertia. He formulated his laws of motion. Newton showed that energy makes objects move or stop.
Page 7
Newton's laws helped build better machines, vehicles, and even rockets! Without his work, space travel would be impossible. Fun Fact: Sound travels 4.3 times faster in water than in air. Now we know force and energy are what make the world go 'round.
Page 8
Back at Everett Middle School, Layla explained to Yuto and Coach Rivera, "Newton figured out that energy is what makes things move or stop! It's like what Franklin said, 'Energy and persistence conquer all things'." "So," Yuto said, "when I kick the ball, I'm giving it energy to move?" Coach Rivera nodded, "And when Nadia does a flip, she uses her energy to push off the ground and rotate in the air!"
Page 9
"It's like when I'm running," Layla said, "I use my energy to make my legs move." Yuto added, "And it takes energy to swim through the water, right? Because the water pushes back!" "Exactly!" said Coach Rivera. "Even a leaf falling from a tree takes energy to break from the branch."
Page 10
Layla smiled, "So, energy is what makes things move or stop moving!" Nadia asked, "If energy makes things move, what is light made of?" Layla grinned, ready for a new question. She opened her notebook and wrote: 'Discovery #1: Energy is what makes things move or stop.'
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Questions and answers
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