Mechanical Energy

Mechanical energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion or position. It is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy in an object.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy an object has due to its motion. The kinetic energy of an object depends on its mass and its velocity. The formula for kinetic energy is:

KE = 0.5 * m * v²

Where:

KE = kinetic energy
m = mass of the object
v = velocity of the object

Potential Energy

Potential energy is the energy an object has due to its position or state. There are several types of potential energy, including gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy. The formula for gravitational potential energy is:

PE = m * g * h

Where:

PE = potential energy
m = mass of the object
g = acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s²)
h = height of the object

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

According to the law of conservation of energy, the total mechanical energy of an object remains constant if only conservative forces are acting on it. This means that the sum of kinetic and potential energy remains constant as long as only conservative forces, such as gravity or spring forces, are involved.

Examples of Mechanical Energy

Examples of mechanical energy include a moving car (kinetic energy), a pendulum at its highest point (potential energy), and a compressed spring (elastic potential energy).