Research papers and term papers on energy and energy related topics are most often written in CSE/CBE Style and AIP Styles. Even so, the format and style vary according to the type, content, level and length of the paper.

Energy has been defined in many different ways in natural science disciplines. It is most often defined as simply the capacity to do work. There are several forms of energy which are encountered as natural phenomena.

When righting a term paper, the first thing to do is narrow down and focuses on a researchable topic. You then have to from the topic as a question that has to be answered. Then you have to find, select and read sources which you can use and cite in the paper. An outline can then be made by grouping, sequencing, as well as documenting information on the topic. First the introduction is written, followed by the body and the conclusion sections. Lastly, a referencing page is necessary which cites all the sources used in the paper following the style guidelines.

The term energy is also used to imply different things and thus can give rise to ambiguity and inconsistency. Government and public-service announcements often ask citizens to conserve energy. Here, they imply cutting down on electricity use, natural gas use and gasoline. The term "conservation" and "energy" here do not have anything to do with the law of conservation in physics. The most important sources of energy and mechanisms of transfer are coal, nuclear fission; crude oil, electromagnetism, natural gas and oil shale.

The different forms of energy inlcude:

1. Potential energy
2. Elastic potential energy
3. Gravitational potential energy
4. Kinetic energy
5. Electric energy
6. Electromagnetic fields
7. Thermal energy
8. Nuclear energy
9. Magnetic energy
10. Chemical energy

Energy can be converted between different forms but can never be created or destroyed. This concept of conservation of energy has been around since the 1800s and is one of the fundamental laws of Physics. This concept of energy transformation has been used to explain and also predict various natural phenomena. Energy has been subject to the global conservation law which states that the total energy of a system always remains constant. The transfer of energy can occur in different forms like work, heat flow, as well as advection.