Mechanical energy is the energy produced by physical movement and work, including falling weights, rotating objects, and flowing water. It is the sum of kinetic and potential energy and can be converted into different forms of energy, such as electrical energy. Examples of mechanical energy can be found in nature and human inventions, including engines and windmills. Even living creatures use mechanical energy, such as birds flying and the human heart pumping blood.
Mechanical energy is energy that comes from any mechanical system; it is usually involved with physical movement and work. Examples include falling weights, the rotation of the earth, pendulums, and flowing water. Mechanical energy is the sum of two forms of energy: kinetic energy and potential energy. Potential energy is the energy that results from the position of an object or the configuration of parts of a system; it has yet to be converted into a specific type of energy. Kinetic energy is the energy that exists due to the motion of an object or objects in a system.
Many students conduct experiments in high school or college to demonstrate various examples of mechanical energy. Falling weights or rotating objects contain mechanical energy, as do pendulums; these are commonly studied in introductory physics courses. Some students also learn the conversion of energy types, which can be clearly seen in a simple electric motor, which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.
There are many examples of mechanical energy that exist in nature and in the various inventions of mankind. Examples in nature are the order of the day. On a very large scale, the motion and rotation of the Earth and other celestial bodies is mechanical energy. On a smaller scale, the movement of water as it flows in a river or stream is also an example of mechanical energy. Even such simple processes as falling stones or moving dust in the wind are all a type of mechanical energy.
Humans have devised many ways to generate and use mechanical energy, so the machinery designed by humans features many different examples of mechanical energy. Engines present a simple example; they convert a form of energy, usually chemical energy, that is released through combustion into mechanical energy that enables some form of motion. This is most commonly seen in automobiles, which are primarily powered by internal combustion engines.
Mechanical energy can also be transformed into different forms of energy; some means of producing electrical energy present good examples of mechanical energy. Windmills, for example, convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Mechanical energy is at work when the wind turns the blades of the windmill; this energy is converted into electricity.
Even living creatures are full of examples of mechanical energy: birds fly, people walk, and fish swim. The human heart uses mechanical energy to pump blood throughout the body. This energy is also used in simple acts such as lifting objects or blinking the eyelids.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
