STEM Marvels: Engines

Engines are machines that are used to change any form of energy into mechanical energy. Mechanical energy is the energy that moves an object. The different types of energy sources are potential energy, heat energy, electric potential, chemical energy and nuclear energy. Potential energy is used in hydroelectric power generation, heat energy is used in geothermal energy, chemical energy is derived from fuels and nuclear energy is generated during nuclear fission or nuclear fusion. Mechanical heat engines convert heat into work by thermodynamic processes.