Energy of the Sun Worksheet | Teach Starter - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to match each item with the correct source of energy.

We are given these energy sources:
- battery
- sun
- electricity
- fuel
- man

Now, let’s look at each picture and think: What gives it power?

1. Airplane – Airplanes run on jet fuel or aviation fuel → fuel
2. Potted plant – Plants get energy from sunlight for photosynthesis → sun
3. Washing machine – It plugs into a wall outlet → uses electricity
4. Bicycle – A person pedals it → powered by man (human effort)
5. Light bulb – Usually connected to electrical wiring → electricity
6. Axe – Used by a person to chop wood → needs human strength → man
7. Flashlight – Typically runs on batteries → battery
8. Van (bus) – Runs on gasoline or diesel → fuel
9. Smartphone – Charged using electricity, but stores energy in a battery → we usually say it uses battery when operating wirelessly
- *Note: Some might argue “electricity” because you charge it that way, but since it operates off its internal battery during use, “battery” is more accurate here.*
10. Tree – Grows using sunlight → sun
11. Rotary phone – Old phones were often plugged into walls → used electricity (even though some old ones didn’t need power, this one likely does as drawn with cord)
- *Actually, traditional rotary phones worked without external power — they got power from the phone line itself, which comes from the telephone company’s system, ultimately tied to electricity. So “electricity” is still acceptable.*
12. Sailboat – Powered by wind… but wait — our options don’t include “wind”. Let’s check again.
- The sailboat has sails → wind pushes it → but “wind” isn’t an option.
- However, looking back at the worksheet title: “Where does the energy come from?” and the choices given: battery, sun, electricity, fuel, man.
- Sailboats can also have motors! But this drawing shows only sails.
- Hmm... maybe we’re meant to think differently? Wait — perhaps the sailor? No, no person shown.
- Actually, let’s reconsider: In many educational contexts, if wind isn't listed, and the boat has sails, sometimes they accept “man” if someone is steering — but there's no person.
- Alternatively, maybe it’s intended to be “fuel” if it’s a motorboat? But it clearly has sails.
- Let me double-check common curriculum answers: Often, sailboats are matched with “wind”, but since “wind” isn’t an option, and “sun” drives weather/wind indirectly? That’s too stretched.
- Wait — perhaps I made a mistake earlier. Let’s list all items again carefully:

Looking again at the grid layout (from top left to bottom right):

Row 1:
- Airplane → fuel
- Plant → sun
- Washing machine → electricity
- Bicycle → man

Row 2:
- Light bulb → electricity
- Axe → man
- Flashlight → battery
- Van → fuel

Row 3:
- Smartphone → battery
- Tree → sun
- Rotary phone → electricity (plugged in)
- Sailboat → ???

For the sailboat — since “wind” isn’t an option, and none of the other sources fit perfectly, let’s think: Is there any chance it’s “man”? Only if someone is rowing or steering — but no oars or person drawn. Maybe it’s a trick? Or perhaps in this context, they consider solar-powered boats? Unlikely.

Wait — another idea: Some modern sailboats have electric motors for docking — but again, not indicated.

Actually, let’s count how many times each source should appear. There are 12 items and 5 categories. Probably not evenly distributed.

But let’s try to assign based on most logical fit even if imperfect.

Perhaps the sailboat is meant to be “fuel” — assuming it’s a motor-sailer? But visually, it’s pure sail.

Alternatively, maybe “sun” — because sun heats air causing wind? Too indirect.

I recall that in some elementary worksheets, if wind isn’t available, they may leave it blank or expect “man” if implied. But here, let’s look for consistency.

Another approach: Let’s see what’s left after assigning obvious ones.

Assigned so far:

- fuel: airplane, van → 2
- sun: plant, tree → 2
- electricity: washing machine, light bulb, rotary phone → 3
- man: bicycle, axe → 2
- battery: flashlight, smartphone → 2

That’s 11 assigned. One left: sailboat.

So sailboat must take whichever category has room — but all have been used multiple times.

Wait — perhaps I miscounted the images.

Let me number them explicitly as per typical worksheet layout (left to right, top to bottom):

Image 1: Airplane → fuel
Image 2: Potted plant → sun
Image 3: Washing machine → electricity
Image 4: Bicycle → man

Image 5: Light bulb → electricity
Image 6: Axe → man
Image 7: Flashlight → battery
Image 8: Van → fuel

Image 9: Smartphone → battery
Image 10: Tree → sun
Image 11: Rotary phone → electricity
Image 12: Sailboat → ?

Still 12 items.

Now, for sailboat — since “wind” isn’t an option, and considering real-world alternatives, perhaps the worksheet expects “fuel” assuming it could have an engine? Or maybe “man” if we imagine a sailor?

But let’s think like a student: If I saw a sailboat and had to pick from those five, what would make sense?

Actually, upon second thought — in many such worksheets, sailboats are sometimes incorrectly or simplistically matched with “man” because humans operate them — even if not providing propulsion directly.

Alternatively, perhaps “sun” because solar energy creates wind patterns? Again, too advanced.

Wait — here’s a better idea: Look at the answer key logic from similar published worksheets.

Upon recalling standard answers for “Forms of Energy” matching exercises:

Commonly:
- Sailboat → wind (not available)
- But if forced to choose from given options, and if the boat has no visible motor, sometimes it’s left as “man” meaning human control.

However, let’s check online resources mentally — actually, in the “Living Life & Learning” brand (seen at bottom), their materials often treat sailboats under “wind”, but since it’s not here, perhaps this version intends “fuel” for motorized version? But image doesn’t show motor.

Another possibility: Maybe the last item is NOT a sailboat but a steamboat? No, it has sails.

Wait — perhaps I’m overcomplicating. Let’s assume that for the purpose of this worksheet, since “wind” isn’t an option, and the only remaining plausible choice is “man” (as in, a person is sailing it, even if not drawn), OR “sun” via indirect effect.

But let’s do a different tactic: Count how many times each label appears in typical answer keys for this exact worksheet.

Since I can’t access live data, I’ll reason pedagogically.

In early education, they simplify:

- Things that plug in → electricity
- Things with engines using gas → fuel
- Things charged or holding cells → battery
- Living things growing → sun
- Things moved by people → man

Sailboat: Moved by wind, operated by man. Since “wind” missing, and “man” is about human effort, and sailing requires skill/effort, perhaps “man” is accepted.

Moreover, in the set, “bicycle” is “man” even though wheels roll — because human powers it. Similarly, sailboat requires human to steer/tack/etc., so “man” might be intended.

Alternatively, if we look at the van — it’s clearly fuel. Airplane — fuel. So two fuels already.

Plant and tree — sun. Two suns.

Washing machine, light bulb, phone — three electrics.

Bicycle, axe — two mans.

Flashlight, phone — two batteries. Phone is counted as battery, yes.

Smartphone is battery, flashlight is battery — that’s two.

Then sailboat — if we put “man”, then man becomes 3; if “sun”, sun becomes 3; etc.

No rule says equal distribution.

But let’s notice: The rotary phone — is it really electricity? Traditional landline phones receive power through the phone line from the central office, which is powered by electricity. So yes, “electricity” is fine.

Now for sailboat — I found a similar worksheet online in my knowledge base: For "Where Does the Energy Come From?" with same options, sailboat is often matched with "wind", but if wind not available, sometimes it's omitted or changed.

Wait — perhaps in this specific image, the sailboat is meant to be "fuel" because it's a motorboat? But the drawing shows sails prominently.

Another idea: Maybe it's "battery" if it's an electric boat? Unlikely.

Let’s think outside the box: Is there any item that could be re-evaluated?

What about the potted plant? Definitely sun.

Tree? Sun.

Smartphone? Battery — yes, because it operates on stored chemical energy in battery.

Flashlight? Battery — yes.

Axe? Man — yes, human swings it.

Bicycle? Man — yes.

Van? Fuel — yes.

Airplane? Fuel — yes.

Washing machine? Electricity — yes.

Light bulb? Electricity — yes.

Rotary phone? Electricity — debatable, but generally accepted as such in schools.

Sailboat — now, if we must choose, and since "wind" isn't there, and the only thing that makes partial sense is that humans use it, so "man".

Perhaps the worksheet has a typo, but we have to work with what's given.

I recall that in some versions of this worksheet, the sailboat is replaced with a car or something else, but here it's sailboat.

Final decision: After careful consideration, the most reasonable assignment for sailboat, given the constraints, is man, assuming human operation is required, even if not depicted.

So final assignments:

1. Airplane → fuel
2. Plant → sun
3. Washing machine → electricity
4. Bicycle → man
5. Light bulb → electricity
6. Axe → man
7. Flashlight → battery
8. Van → fuel
9. Smartphone → battery
10. Tree → sun
11. Rotary phone → electricity
12. Sailboat → man

Now, let’s write them in order as per the worksheet boxes.

The worksheet has 12 blanks, corresponding to the 12 images in row-major order.

So the answers in sequence are:

fuel, sun, electricity, man,
electricity, man, battery, fuel,
battery, sun, electricity, man

Let me verify once more:

- Image 1: Airplane → fuel ✓
- Image 2: Plant → sun ✓
- Image 3: Washer → electricity ✓
- Image 4: Bike → man ✓
- Image 5: Bulb → electricity ✓
- Image 6: Axe → man ✓
- Image 7: Flashlight → battery ✓
- Image 8: Van → fuel ✓
- Image 9: Phone → battery ✓
- Image 10: Tree → sun ✓
- Image 11: Rotary phone → electricity ✓
- Image 12: Sailboat → man ✓ (best available choice)

Yes, this seems consistent.

Final Answer:
fuel, sun, electricity, man, electricity, man, battery, fuel, battery, sun, electricity, man