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 a system.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. The formula to calculate kinetic energy is:

KE = 0.5 * m * v²

Where KE is the kinetic energy, m is the mass of the object, and v is its velocity.

Potential Energy

Potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its position or state. There are different forms of potential energy, including gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy.

Gravitational Potential Energy

The gravitational potential energy of an object near the surface of the Earth is given by the formula:

GPE = m * g * h

Where GPE is the gravitational potential energy, m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the object above a chosen reference point.

Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in elastic materials as the result of their stretching or compressing. It can be calculated using the formula:

EPE = 0.5 * k * x²

Where EPE is the elastic potential energy, k is the spring constant, and x is the displacement of the spring from its equilibrium position.

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

In the absence of non-conservative forces such as friction or air resistance, the total mechanical energy of a system remains constant. This is known as the conservation of mechanical energy.

Study Guide

1. What is mechanical energy?
2. Describe the difference between kinetic and potential energy.
3. Provide the formulas for calculating kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, and elastic potential energy.
4. Explain the concept of conservation of mechanical energy.
5. Give examples of everyday objects or phenomena that involve mechanical energy.