1. What is Mechanical Energy?

Definition: Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy in a system.

Purpose: This calculator helps determine the total mechanical energy of an object based on its mass, velocity, and height.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses these formulas:

Where:

• \( ME \) — Mechanical energy (Joules, J)
• \( KE \) — Kinetic energy (Joules, J)
• \( PE \) — Potential energy (Joules, J)
• \( m \) — Mass (kilograms, kg)
• \( v \) — Velocity (meters per second, m/s)
• \( g \) — Gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s²)
• \( h \) — Height (meters, m)

Explanation: The calculator computes kinetic energy from mass and velocity, potential energy from mass and height, then sums them for total mechanical energy.

3. Importance of Mechanical Energy

Details: Mechanical energy is fundamental in physics for analyzing systems where energy is conserved, such as pendulums, roller coasters, or falling objects.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the mass in kg, velocity in m/s, and height in m. All values must be ≥ 0 (velocity and height can be 0 for stationary or ground-level objects).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if my object isn't moving?
A: If velocity is 0, kinetic energy will be 0, and mechanical energy equals potential energy.

Q2: What if my object is at ground level?
A: If height is 0, potential energy will be 0, and mechanical energy equals kinetic energy.

Q3: Why is gravitational acceleration 9.81 m/s²?
A: This is the standard value for Earth's gravity. Use different values for other planets.

Q4: Can mechanical energy be negative?
A: No, since mass is always positive and both velocity² and height are ≥ 0, ME is always ≥ 0.

Q5: How is this different from total energy?
A: Mechanical energy doesn't include other forms like thermal or chemical energy - just kinetic and potential.