1. What Is Mechanical Energy?

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

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the mechanical energy formula:

Where:

• \( m \) — Mass of the object (kg)
• \( v \) — Velocity of the object (m/s)
• \( g \) — Acceleration due to gravity (m/s²)
• \( h \) — Height of the object (m)

Explanation: The first term represents kinetic energy (energy of motion), and the second term represents potential energy (energy due to position in a gravitational field).

3. Importance Of Mechanical Energy Calculation

Details: Calculating mechanical energy is fundamental in physics and engineering for analyzing systems where energy conservation applies, such as in pendulum motion, roller coasters, and falling objects.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in kilograms, velocity in meters per second, height in meters, and gravity in m/s² (default is Earth's gravity: 9.8 m/s²). All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the units of mechanical energy?
A: Mechanical energy is measured in joules (J) in the SI system.

Q2: Is mechanical energy conserved?
A: In an isolated system with only conservative forces, mechanical energy is conserved. However, in real-world systems with friction or air resistance, mechanical energy is not conserved.

Q3: Can mechanical energy be negative?
A: No, mechanical energy cannot be negative as both kinetic and potential energy components are always non-negative values.

Q4: How does height affect mechanical energy?
A: As height increases, potential energy increases, which increases the total mechanical energy of the system.

Q5: What's the difference between mechanical energy and total energy?
A: Mechanical energy only includes kinetic and potential energy, while total energy includes all forms of energy (thermal, chemical, nuclear, etc.).