Mechanical energy is the difference between the kinetic and potential energies of an object true or false?
Total mechanical energy is the SUM of kinetic and mechanical potential energy.
False. Mechanical energy is the sum of the kinetic energy and potential energy of an object, not the difference between the two.
To understand this concept, let's break it down:
1. Kinetic Energy (KE): This is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It depends on the mass (m) of the object and its velocity (v). The formula for kinetic energy is given by:
KE = (1/2) * m * v^2
2. Potential Energy (PE): This is the energy that an object possesses due to its position in a force field. There are different types of potential energy such as gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy.
- Gravitational potential energy (PEg): This is the energy an object possesses due to its height from a reference point in a gravitational field. It is given by:
PEg = m * g * h
where m is the object's mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height.
- Elastic potential energy (PEe): This is the energy stored in an object when it is stretched or compressed. It depends on the spring constant (k) and the displacement (x) of the object. The formula for elastic potential energy is given by:
PEe = (1/2) * k * x^2
3. Mechanical Energy (ME): This is the sum of the kinetic and potential energies of an object. It represents the total energy associated with the object's motion and position. It is given by:
ME = KE + PE
Therefore, mechanical energy is not the difference between kinetic and potential energies, but rather the sum of the two.