A Guide to The Energy of The Earth

A TED-Ed video lesson about the different sources of energy and how using these different resources can impact our daily lives.

Related Topics:
4. Various sources of energy are used to power human activities.

Associated Grade Levels:

Related Sub-Topics

3.6 Humans are part of Earth’s ecosystems and influence energy flow through these systems.

6.8 Amount of energy used can be calculated and monitored.

4.5 Humans generate electricity in multiple ways.

2.5 Movement of matter between reservoirs is driven by Earth’s sources of energy.

1.7 Many different units are used to quantify energy.




4.3 Fossil and biofuels are organic matter that contain energy captured from sunlight.

2.2 Sunlight, gravitational potential, decay of radioactive isotopes, and rotation of the Earth

5.4 Energy decisions are influenced by economic factors.


7.3 Environmental quality is impacted by energy choices.


5.7 Energy decisions are influenced by social factors.

1.5 Energy comes in different forms and can be divided into categories.

6.6 Behavior and design affect the amount of energy used by human society.

4.1 Humans transfer and transform energy from the environment into forms useful for human endeavors

7.1 Economic security is impacted by energy choices.


6.3 Human demand for energy is increasing.



4.2 Humans use of energy is subject to limits and constraints.

5.5 Energy decisions are influenced by political factors.

2.3 Earth’s weather and climate are mostly driven by energy from the Sun.

6.4 Earth has limited energy resources.

1.3 Energy is neither created nor destroyed.


6.1 Conservation of energy has two very different meanings.

2.6 Greenhouse gases affect energy flow through the Earth system.

2.7 The effects of changes in Earth’s energy system are often not immediately apparent.

4.7 Different sources of energy and different ways energy is transformed, transported, and stored.

5.3 Energy decisions can be made using a systems-based approach.

6.2 One way to manage energy resources is through conservation.

2.1 Earth constantly changes as energy flows through the system.


4.4 Humans transport energy from place to place.


5.6 Energy decisions are influenced by environmental factors.

1.6 Chemical and nuclear reactions involve transfer and transformation of energy.

7.5 Access to energy resources affects quality of life.