How will mechanical energy affect different points of oscillation on a vertical spring?
Well i know that mechanical energy is PE and KE...So when the spring is compressed the mechanical energy will equal the PE and when extended or stretched it will equal KE. Does that answer the question?
It is hard to answer you. The question is rather silly, in my opinion, I have no idea what the writer wanted.
The mechanical energy is constant, and at different points, the PE is different, and the KE is different, however, the sum is a constant.
okay so the mechanical energy is AlWAYS constant?
yes. KE+PE=constant
okay thanks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTsUx-6CflI
Yes, you are correct in stating that mechanical energy consists of both potential energy (PE) and kinetic energy (KE). In the case of a vertical spring, mechanical energy will indeed affect the different points of oscillation.
When the spring is compressed, the mechanical energy is primarily stored as potential energy due to the displacement of the spring from its equilibrium position. As the compressed spring is released, this potential energy starts to convert into kinetic energy. At the maximum point of compression, all the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, resulting in maximum velocity (and thus maximum kinetic energy) of the spring.
As the spring starts to expand and move towards its equilibrium position, the kinetic energy decreases while the potential energy increases. At the equilibrium point (where the spring is neither compressed nor extended), all the mechanical energy of the system is in the form of potential energy.
As the spring continues to expand, potential energy is gradually changed back into kinetic energy until it reaches maximum extension (or amplitude) where all the energy is in the form of kinetic energy. The kinetic energy is maximum at this point, resulting in maximum velocity.
Then, the spring starts to contract and the kinetic energy gradually decreases while the potential energy increases. This continues until the spring reaches the equilibrium point again, where all the energy is in potential energy form.
This process of energy conversion continues as the spring oscillates up and down around the equilibrium position. The mechanical energy is constantly transforming between potential and kinetic energy at different points of oscillation, with maximum potential energy at the extremes and maximum kinetic energy at the equilibrium position.
In summary, the mechanical energy in a vertical spring oscillation varies at different points: it is primarily potential energy when the spring is compressed or extended, and primarily kinetic energy when the spring is at equilibrium or passing through it.