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Mechanical Energy Equation:
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Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic energy, potential energy, and internal energy in a system. It represents the total energy of an object or system due to its motion, position, and internal structure.
The calculator uses the mechanical energy equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation accounts for all forms of mechanical energy in a system, including motion energy (KE), position energy (PE), and internal structural energy.
Details: Calculating total mechanical energy is crucial for understanding energy conservation in physical systems, solving physics problems, and analyzing mechanical systems in engineering.
Tips: Enter all energy values in joules. The calculator will sum the kinetic, potential, and internal energy components to give the total mechanical energy.
Q1: What's the difference between mechanical energy and total energy?
A: Mechanical energy only includes mechanical forms of energy (KE, PE, internal), while total energy might include other forms like thermal, chemical, or nuclear energy.
Q2: Is mechanical energy always conserved?
A: In ideal systems with no friction or air resistance, mechanical energy is conserved. In real systems, some mechanical energy may convert to other forms like heat.
Q3: Can internal energy be negative?
A: Typically no, since it represents the energy of molecular bonds and motion. The calculator assumes positive values only.
Q4: How is this different from Physics 1 energy calculations?
A: Physics 2 typically includes internal energy in calculations, while Physics 1 often focuses just on KE and PE.
Q5: What are typical units for mechanical energy?
A: The SI unit is joules (J), though other units like ergs or foot-pounds may be used in different contexts.