Heat and sound are examples of which energy type?

• A. Kinetic Energy
• B. Nonmechanical Energy
• C. Elastic Potential Energy
• D. Momentum

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that not all energy is tied to an object’s bulk motion or its deformation. Heat is thermal energy—the random motion of particles that gives temperature. Sound is energy carried by vibrating particles in a medium as waves. Neither is the energy of a moving object itself nor stored as elastic stretch in a spring, so they’re categorized as nonmechanical energy in this context. Kinetic energy is the energy of an object in motion, which heat and sound are not representing for the whole object. Elastic potential energy comes from a stretched or compressed object, which isn’t what heat or sound are. Momentum is a quantity describing motion, not a form of energy. So heat and sound fit best under nonmechanical energy.