Mechanical Energy

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Mechanical Energy Noun

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[muh-kan-i-kuhl en-er-jee]

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Mechanical Energy

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The sum of the potential energy and kinetic energy possessed by an object or system due to its motion and position.

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Example: A roller coaster at its peak has maximum potential energy (PE) and zero kinetic energy (KE); its total mechanical energy (ME) is the sum of both.

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Potential Energy Noun

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[po-ten-shuhl en-er-jee]

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Potential Energy

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The stored energy an object possesses due to its position, state, or internal stress, ready to be converted into motion.

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Example: This diagram shows that a cyclist at the top of a hill has maximum potential energy, which is stored energy due to the cyclist's high position.

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Kinetic Energy Noun

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[ki-net-ik en-er-jee]

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Kinetic Energy

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The form of energy that an object or a particle has by reason of its motion, dependent on mass and speed.

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Example: The release of the drawn bowstring converts stored potential energy into kinetic energy, causing the arrow to fly forward with the energy of motion.

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Gravitational Potential Energy Noun

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[grav-i-tey-shuhn-l po-ten-shuhl en-er-jee]

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Gravitational Potential Energy

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The energy an object possesses because of its position in a gravitational field, typically determined by its height above a reference.

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Example: A person standing at the top of stairs has stored energy (gravitational potential energy) because of their high position relative to the ground.

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Law of Conservation of Energy Noun

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[law uv kon-ser-vey-shuhn uv en-er-jee]

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Law of Conservation of Energy

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The fundamental principle stating that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant over time, only changing forms.

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Example: A swinging pendulum shows energy conservation: it has maximum potential energy at the highest points and converts this to maximum kinetic energy at the lowest point.

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Work-Energy Theorem Noun

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[wurk en-er-jee thee-er-uhm]

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Work-Energy Theorem

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The principle stating that the net work done on a system by external forces equals the change in its kinetic energy.

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Example: This diagram shows that when a net force acts in the direction of motion (positive work), an object's kinetic energy increases. When the force opposes motion (negative work), its kinetic energy decreases.

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Work Noun

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[wurk]

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Work

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The measure of energy transfer that occurs when an object is moved over a distance by an applied external force.

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Example: This diagram shows the formula triangle for Work (W), which is calculated by multiplying Force (F) by distance (s), a key concept in mechanical energy.

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Mass Noun

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[mas]

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Mass

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A measure of the amount of matter in an object, which is a fundamental property influencing its inertia and energy.

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Example: This image shows a balance scale comparing an apple to a 1-gram weight, visually demonstrating that mass is the amount of matter in an object.

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Speed Noun

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[speed]

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Speed

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The rate at which an object covers distance; a scalar quantity that is a key component in calculating kinetic energy.

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Example: This diagram shows that speed is calculated by dividing the distance an object travels by the time it takes to travel that distance.

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Joule Noun

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[jool]

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Joule

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The standard unit of work or energy in the International System of Units, equal to the work done by a one-newton force.

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Example: This image shows a calculation for electrical energy, where multiplying power (in watts) by time (in seconds) results in the energy value in joules.