Sectieoverzicht
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Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy in an object that is used to do a particular work. In other words, it describes the energy of an object because of its motion or position, or both.
Mechanical energy enables that object to apply a force to another object in order to cause it to be displaced.
There are two main types of mechanical energy.
1. Potential Energy: It is the energy stored in an object due to its position. Gravitational potential energy due to Earth’s gravity is a common type of potential energy. It depends on the object’s height from the Earth’s surface. For example, an apple in an apple tree has the maximum potential energy. When it falls, its potential energy reduces and becomes zero upon reaching the surface.
2. Kinetic Energy: It is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. The movement of an object is manifested by its speed. Consider the above example. When the apple is in the tree, it is at rest with zero kinetic energy. When it falls, it gains speed owing to acceleration due to gravity. The kinetic energy increases and reaches a maximum when the apple hits the ground.
A hammer is a tool that uses mechanical energy to do work. The mechanical energy of a hammer gives the hammer its ability to apply a force to a nail in order to cause it to be displaced. Because the hammer has mechanical energy, in the form of kinetic energy, it can do work on the nail.
When you kick a soccer ball your leg applies kinetic energy to the ball. When you kick a soccer ball the ball deforms for an instant. The energy going into the collision is the energy of your foot added to stored energy in the ball. The energy coming out mechanical energy which causes the ball to move.
When a dart gun is loaded and the springs are compressed, it possesses mechanical energy. The mechanical energy of the compressed springs gives the springs the ability to apply a force to the dart out of the gun when the trigger is pulled. The springs have mechanical energy in the form of elastic potential energy.
At a wind farm, winds are used to do work on the blades of a turbine. The mechanical energy of the moving air gives the air particles the ability to apply a force and cause movement of the blades. As the blades spin, their kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy which is a non-mechanical form of energy and supplied to homes and industries to run electrical appliances. Because the moving wind has mechanical energy in the form of kinetic energy, it can do work on the blades.
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