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 equation:

Where:

• \( E \) — Mechanical energy (joules)
• \( KE \) — Kinetic energy (joules)
• \( PE \) — Potential energy (joules)

Explanation: The equation simply adds together the kinetic energy (energy of motion) and potential energy (stored energy due to position) to get the total mechanical energy.

3. Importance of Mechanical Energy Calculation

Details: Calculating mechanical energy is fundamental in physics for understanding conservation of energy, solving problems in mechanics, and analyzing physical systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both kinetic and potential energy values in joules. Both values must be non-negative numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the units for mechanical energy?
A: The standard unit is joules (J) in the SI system.

Q2: Is mechanical energy always conserved?
A: In an isolated system with only conservative forces, mechanical energy is conserved. Non-conservative forces like friction can convert mechanical energy to other forms.

Q3: What's the difference between KE and PE?
A: Kinetic energy is energy of motion (\( \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \)), while potential energy is stored energy due to position (like gravitational PE = mgh).

Q4: Can mechanical energy be negative?
A: While individual components might be negative in some reference frames, the total mechanical energy in physical systems is typically positive.

Q5: How is this different from total energy?
A: Total energy includes all forms (thermal, nuclear, etc.), while mechanical energy only includes kinetic and potential energy.