1. What is Mechanical Energy?

Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy in a system. It represents the total energy associated with the motion and position of an object.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the mechanical energy equation:

Where:

• \( ME \) — Total mechanical energy (joules)
• \( KE \) — Kinetic energy (joules)
• \( PE \) — Potential energy (joules)
• \( m \) — Mass (kg)
• \( v \) — Velocity (m/s)
• \( g \) — Gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s²)
• \( h \) — Height (m)

Explanation: The equation calculates the total energy by summing the energy due to motion (kinetic) and position (potential).

3. Importance of Mechanical Energy Calculation

Details: Calculating mechanical energy is essential in physics and engineering for analyzing energy conservation, motion dynamics, and system behavior in various applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in kilograms, velocity in meters per second, and height in meters. All values must be valid (mass > 0, velocity ≥ 0, height ≥ 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the conservation of mechanical energy?
A: In a closed system with only conservative forces, the total mechanical energy remains constant.

Q2: How does mechanical energy relate to work?
A: Work done on a system changes its mechanical energy according to the work-energy theorem.

Q3: What are typical units for mechanical energy?
A: Mechanical energy is measured in joules (J) in the SI system.

Q4: Can mechanical energy be negative?
A: While kinetic energy is always positive, potential energy can be negative depending on the reference point.

Q5: How is this different from total energy?
A: Mechanical energy only includes kinetic and potential energy, while total energy includes all forms of energy in a system.