Mechanical Energy: The Most Fundamental Form of Energy

 What is energy exactly? Energy is an object’s ability to do work. How is it measured? It uses units called joules. Paired together, these seem to describe all energy, right? Well, what if I told you there is more than one type of energy. Some examples include nuclear and thermal energy.

Today, the focus of my discussion will be mechanical energy, though. In our world, mechanical energy typically comes in three forms. Gravitational potential energy (GPE) is the first form. This form of mechanical energy comes from an object’s height within the gravitational field. Its equation is mgh, where m stands for mass, g for gravity, and h for height above a reference point. The higher or more massive an object is, the higher ts GPE value will be.

The next form of mechanical is kinetic energy (KE). For those who are curious, the equation for KE is ½mv^2. Essentially, increasing m (mass) and/or v (velocity) will increase an object’s kinetic energy. Decreasing either variable has the opposite effect.

The third form of mechanical energy is elastic potential energy, which comes from compressing a spring over a certain distance. The stiffness of spring also plays a role in an object’s elastic potential energy.

In a closed system, total mechanical energy is conserved. A closed system is an environment where there is no air resistance or friction at work. In this ideal situation, mechanical energy can change from one form to another with no energy being lost. For example, an object’s gravitational potential energy at its peak can be completely transformed into kinetic energy at its lowest point. Mechanical energy is simply one type of energy, which is an aspect of physics that is literally ever-changing.

10 types of energy

Picture Source: sciencenotes.org