13 Example Of Radiant Energy To Kinetic Energy: Detailed Explanations

Radiant energy is a form of energy transferred by the means of electromagnetic radiation. The radiation energy is also converted into other forms. Let us study the example of radiant energy to kinetic energy.

Detailed Explanation on the example of radiant energy to kinetic energy

Radiant energy is radiated in the form of light, heat and sound. In some cases, radiant energy causes motion; the example of radiant energy to kinetic energy is explained below.

Windmill

The wind carries radiant energy. When the wind blows, the radiant energy is carried through the wind that causes the wings of the windmill to rotate. Since the rotation of the wings is a form of kinetic energy, the radiant energy is transformed into kinetic energy.

example of radiant energy to kinetic energy
Image credits: Image by Carabo Spain from Pixabay 

Steamboats

Steamboats are run by steam produced by burning coal. When the coal is burnt, heat is radiated, and the water boils, producing steam. The steam generates the pressure to push the piston, and thus the boat begins to move. Thus the radiant energy from the coal is turned into the kinetic energy of the boat in motion.

Tornadoes

During summer days, we have observed tornadoes. When the humid, warm air and the dry cold air collide, tornadoes are generated. The air radiating from the tornadoes attracts the particles in the surround, and it begins to rotate. Thus the surrounding particles acquire kinetic energy from the radiated air.

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Image credits: Image by Willgard Krause from Pixabay 

Trains run by steam

A steam train also works similarly to steamboats. Heat is radiated by burning the coal produces steam. As the burning increases, the steam temperature also creases, creating high pressure. The pressurized steam pushes the axel of the piston connected to the wheel, causing them to rotate, and thus the train begins to move. Therefore trains run by steam are an example of radiant energy to kinetic energy conversion.

Dust particles carried by the wind

The wind always blows from region of low-pressure to high-pressure or vice versa. It is a good example of radiant energy to kinetic energy conversion. The breeze carries the dust particle with it when it blows. The dust particles possess kinetic energy as they begin to move. The radiant energy carried by the wind is transferred to the dust particle to cause motion.

Fan causing the motion of the lighter object

When you switch on your fan for some air, the object lighter object near the fan moving in the air is an example of radiant energy to kinetic energy. When the fan is turned on, the mechanical energy makes the propellers rotate and thus, the air is radiated in the room. The objects less dense than the air begins to move; thus, radiant energy emitted by the fan is converted as the kinetic energy of the lighter object.

Rocket

The rocket launching requires more amount of fuel to be ignited. The burnt fuels produce a large amount of radiant energy in the form of heat. Thus to escape from the earth’s gravity, upward thrust must be very high; it is given by the fuel radiated downward when ignited. Thus vertical motion of the rocket is due to the radiant energy which is radiated downward.

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Image credits: Image by Alexander Antropov from Pixabay

Cyclone

Cyclones are caused due to rise in the temperature of the air over the ocean surface and a fall in the atmospheric pressure in that region. The air in the surrounding region is of high pressure, which is pushed towards the low-pressure area, and thus the air is warmed up. This results in the water molecule acquiring kinetic energy, and it rises. This cycle is continuous.

During cyclones raining is common, it is because the cool air becomes warm and moist due to low pressure, it rises. When the warm air rises up, the atmospheric air cools them, and the cloud is formed, causing the rain.

Earthquake

When the seismic wave suddenly releases in the earth’s lithosphere, the surface of the earth is shaken causing the earthquake. The seismic wave radiated hits beneath the surface causing the vibration, which shakes the surface.

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Image credits: Image by Angelo Giordano from Pixabay 

If the frequency of a seismic wave is more, it causes the collapse of buildings, cracks in the surface.

Volcanic eruption

When a rock called magma beneath the earth rises to the surface, volcanoes erupt. When the earth’s mantle melts, it radiates a tremendous amount of energy, causing high pressure in the exsolved gases in the magma. Magma is lighter, and thus pressure created pushes the magma to rise out of the surface, causing the eruption.

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Image credits: Image by Berdan Mardinly from Pixabay 

Demolition of building

In the process of demolition of large buildings, a vibration of significant frequency is radiated on the walls of the building, causing the destruction. Explosives like dynamites are used in this process. The vibration radiated by the dynamite hits the wall of the building; this vibration makes the building collapse.

The heat emitted by the hairdryer.

To dry the wet hair, hairdryers are used. The hairdryer radiates the heat. When we blow them on our hair, the hair becomes dry, and we can also observe the spreading of the hair in the air. Thus radiant energy from the dryer is transferred to the hair as kinetic energy.

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Image credits: Image by Krzysiek from Pixabay 

Water bird toys

The water birds are perpetual motion toys that work as heat engines to mimic the motion of the drinking bird. When the bird’s beak dips in the water, the water is vaporized in the bird’s head and radiates heat. This radiated heat lowers the pressure and makes the head toggle. Thus radiated energy is converted as kinetic energy.

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