Why can't heat energy be converted directly into kinetic or energy or stored electrical energy

Question

Ok, I asked this question before but I feel a little obscessed with it. After I graduate with a joint degree in Math and either Physics or Chemistry I'd like to work on a few "problems" such as this. I can't do it full time because I plan to be a "full time mommy" with lots of little (and maybe not so little lol lol ) bright eyed and bushy tailed little ones running around so maybe I can "scare up" some laboratory space and epuiptment some where. I don't dare ask this question in Physics because when I've tried that before I found that no one ever answers questions in that yahoo category. Is it physically impossible?

Answer 1

The only way you can extract kinetic/electrical/stored energy from heat is if something is hotter than its surroundings, and as soon as that energy is extracted, the object cools down.

When you go for your physics major, make sure you take a couple of Thermodynamics classes, because that's where you'll deal with this sort of thing.

Answer 2

Actually, boiler is the equipment generate heat energy in form of steam, the high pressure steam push turbine and generate electricity or push some old train running on railroad, I am not sure if this is the way to convert directly to kinetic energy of electricity.