You just learned some basic information about energy. You know now that it can change from one type to another AND from one object to another, for example, and that energy comes in several different forms. It can show up as thermal (or heat) energy, electrical energy, electromagnetic (or light) energy, and also as mechanical energy, which basically makes everything move.
Watch this animation to find out about mechanical energy and how it is related to the motion and position of an object. As you watch the segment, you might want to check the definitions of specific terms. In addition to the glossary words listed above, the terms force, position, kinetic energy, and potential energy will be described.
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Mechanical energy is one of the main types of energy. Objects “move” by forces and change positions. And that movement is transferring energy. But mechanical energy can be separated into different types, depending on whether an object is actively moving (Kinetic) or not (Potential).
Kinetic energy is the energy an object has when it is moving or actively changing positions. A rolling ball, a falling block, or a flipping coin. All of these possess kinetic energy while they are moving.
But objects that aren’t moving have mechanical energy too. The energy they have is in their position and potential to move. A ball perched high on a shelf isn’t changing positions. But it has the potential to. Once it does, that potential energy that is stored in its position is converted to kinetic energy. Potential energy can be a lot, or a little depending on the object's position.
All of this is mechanical or “movement” energy. And because we exist in a universe where things have the potential to move, we’d all do well to understand the role mechanical energy plays in well, almost everything.
In the space below write a definition of kinetic energy and potential energy. Give an example of each.