Daily Life Examples of Mechanical Energy

Mechanical energy, also called motion energy, defines body movement according to motion and position. Mechanical energy can be observed on an object where force is applied and the body employs the transfer of energy as motion. A moving object has mechanical energy. In this post, we will cover the detailed features of mechanical energy and practical examples. So let’s get started.

What is Mechanical Energy?

In physics, mechanical energy is a combination of kinetic energy and potential energy.
According to the principle of conservation of mechanical energy, if an isolated system has conservative forces, constant mechanical energy exists.
If a body moves in reverse to the conservative net forces, potential energy increases, and if the speed of the object varies, kinetic energy also varies.

In a real system, nonconservative forces like frictional forces exist, and for small magnitudes, mechanical energy varies less, and conservation is good.
For elastic collisions, kinetic energy remains constant, but for inelastic collisions, mechanical energy is converted into thermal energy.
A body possesses mechanical energy if it is in motion or located at a place that is at a zero potential energy position.
There is no existence of kinetic and potential energy at the same time for a certain object since the object has both kinetic and potential energy and in some conditions has one energy.

Mechanical Energy Types

Mechanical energy comes with two basic types: kinetic energy and potential energy.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is possessed by an object due to motion. It is a combination of the velocity and mass of a body. The formula used for measuring kinetic energy is as

Here, m is the mass of the body, and V is the velocity. A high-speed body or larger mass has high kinetic energy. Kinetic energy performs work and affects the surrounding area through motion.

Common examples of kinetic energy are a spinning turbine, a moving car, or a flying airplane.

Potential Energy:

Potential energy is a form of energy that exists in an object due to its position according to a reference point and conditions.
Potential energy also comes with some types

Gravitational Potential Energy:

This energy is possessed by an object due to its height over the ground in a gravitational field. Its measuring formula is as

Here m is body mass, g is acceleration due to gravity, and h is height from the reference point.

Elastic Potential Energy

This potential energy exists in objects that can compress and stretch, like rubber bands or springs. Its measuring formula is

in the above equation, K is constant and x is the displacement taken from the equilibrium position.

Chemical Potential Energy:

Read also: 15 Examples of Convection In Daily Life

In this energy type, energy is stored in the chemical bonds of materials. When a chemical reaction exists, this potential energy is released and transformed into other energy types, like heat or light.
Potential energy is stored energy that is converted into kinetic energy or other energy types in the case of changes.
This energy type can be observed in roller coasters and water reservoirs.

mechanical energy formula

Mechanical energy is defined as the net potential energy and kinetic energy of a body that performs work. Mechanical energy is defined as the energy of a component due to position or motion, and in some conditions, both.
potential energy of an object due to its position and the kinetic energy of motion.
Potential energy has a value of 0 for motion conditions, and kinetic energy is 0 for objects at rest restconditions

The formula of mechanical energy is as

M.E = K. E + P.E

M.E = ½ mv2 + mgh

g = acceleration due to gravity
m = mass of an object
v = velocity of that object
h = height of an object

Everyday Examples of Mechanical Energy

Using kitchen appliances
Listening to music
Typing on a keyboard
Driving a car
Exercising
Turning a doorknob
Breathing in and out
Hammering a nail
Riding a bicycle
Sharpening a pencil

Wrecking Ball

The wrecking ball is a large, round design that is employed for building demolition. If a ball is at a certain height, it has some potential energy, and when it moves downward, it has some kinetic energy.
When a ball collides, demolishing a building, apply a force that causes work; as a result, the building gets demolished.

Hammer

Hammer application is a mechanical energy example: when we hit a nail with a hammer on a wall, the force applied causes work to be done.
A hammer does not have kinetic energy but has potential energy.
Before striking the hammer with the nail, kinetic work, and after striking, potential energy work that turnsinto mechanical energy that drives the nail into the wall.

Dart Gun

• A dart gun also employs mechanical energy in daily life. The dart gun follows the elastic potential energy principle.
spring used in dart guns comes with stored elastic potential energy. Due to dart gun loading, the result is compressing the spring.
At this time the dart gun has elastic potential energy. With this energy, the spring has features to apply force on the dart and causes displacement of the dart.

Windmill

windmills used for the conversion of wind energy into electrical energy; that energy is used for driving different appliances.
Windmills operated through the following mechanical energy.Wind, when it flows, comes with kinetic energy due to motion conditions. This energy applies force on the blades for movement. As a result, rotation occurs for blades when force is applied. so mechanical energy causes rotation of the fan blades

Bowling Ball

A bowling ball has some energy in the form of kinetic energy when moving towards certain points. With using this energy ball, perform work on pins. When the ball strikes the target pins, the ball applies force in the shape of mechanical energy, the pin moves, and as a result, work is done.
So, the mechanical energy given to the bowling ball applies force on the pins and displaces them.

Hydropower Plant

Hydropower plants generated power through water movement. A hydro plant is a basic example of mechanical energy.
water runs down at a certain speed in a hydropower plant. water strikes at a certain height to get certain energy that exists as gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy.
Water falling downward strikes turbine blades that are at the lower part of the waterfall. The mechanical energy of water helps to perform work on blades, causing rotation. When blades move, a turbine transforms mechanical energy into electrical power.
So mechanical energy causes water to work on turbine blades.

Cycling

During bicycle riding, have chemical potential energy. That energy is used for work done on the paddles of the cycle with force, and as a result, the bicycle moves ahead.

Moon

The moon is called a natural satellite and revolves around the earth. The moon has potential energy due to its position with respect to Earth and also kinetic energy due to its motion in orbit around Earth.
• The moon has high mechanical energy in terms of potential energy and kinetic energy with respect to motion and position.
• The mechanical energy of the moon with Earth is constant based on the law of conservation of mechanical energy.
Law of conservation of mechanical energy: Say the mechanical energy of a closed system is constant if no external force is applied, leaving only the gravitational force.

Electric Motor

Electric motors are used in different devices such as blenders, washing machines, fans, and air conditioners. An electric motor works to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.
When the power supply is on, the motor transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy. Mechanical energy applies force on fan blades; they rotate.
As a result, the mechanical energy converted from the electric motor is used for working on the blades.

Bow & Arrow.

A bow and arrow is also an example of mechanical energy. When an arrow is drawn, it has potential energy in terms of elastic potential energy, and after releasing the bow, it has kinetic energy when the pull force of the arrow moves towards the target.
With a combination of these energies, the arrow has the mechanical energy to reach the target.

Mechanical Energy Conversion

Kinetic to Potential Energy,

if anybody has kinetic energy when gets height, reverse the gravity force where kinetic energy transforms into potential energy.
A basic example is a ball thrown up; when it moves upward, kinetic energy reduces since velocity decreases, and potential energy increases due to height increase.

Potential to Kinetic Energy

If we left any particle from a height, like a lifted weight or compressed spring, potential energy would transform into kinetic energy when the body moved downward.

Mechanical to Thermal Energy

Friction is an example that causes energy losses and transforms mechanical energy into thermal energy. If surfaces move or rub in opposite directions, their interaction causes heat generation.
In this process, mechanical energy is converted into thermal energy, that is, the particles’ kinetic energy.

Mechanical to Sound Energy

Sound is produced due to vibrations of the mechanical system. Such as a drumstick strike on a drumhead, causes sound due to vibrations, converting mechanical energy into audible vibrations.

Mechanical to Electrical Energy

Piezoelectric materials produce charges through mechanical stress, helping transform mechanical energy into electrical energy.
When mechanical force is applied on these materials, they deform and produce differences in the materials, resulting in current.

Can mechanical energy be negative?

Mechanical energy is negative, since mechanical energy is a combination of potential energy and kinetic energy.
Kinetic energy is not negative due to velocity. But positive energy becomes negative according to direction or reference point.

Mechanical Energy Practical Applications

Renewable Energy

Mechanical energy is used for renewable energy. Wind turbines use kinetic energy from moving air and transform it into mechanical energy with the movement of turbine blades. This mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy with generators.
Hydropower systems work through water kinetic energy for operating turbines that produce mechanical energy and transform it into electrical energy.

Vehicles: The

The mechanical energy of vehicles is also an example of mechanical energy. In internal combustion, fuel combustion generates mechanical energy that gives power to the vehicle. An electric vehicle uses stored electric energy to operate motors that produce mechanical energy for movement. The braking system of an electric vehicle transforms kinetic energy into electrical energy for deceleration and increases efficiency.

FAQs

What is an example of mechanical energy, Class 6?

Machines use mechanical energy to perform work. such as a hammer, uses mechanical energy to drive a nail into a board. When the sled moves up, it comes with potential energy from the work done to lift it.

Is a fan an example of mechanical energy?

Electric fans transform electrical energy into mechanical energy.

How is mechanical energy used in everyday life?

Daily life uses moving objects to perform work that is not possible to do. hydropower and wind power that generate electrical energy with the use of mechanical energy

Is sound an example of mechanical energy?

Sound is mechanical energy moving through a medium like air, water, or solids that is generated from objects and through frequency, amplitude, and time.

Is a bike an example of mechanical energy?

Biking is an example of mechanical energy.

What are three examples of electrical energy?

The common electrical energy examples are batteries, electric charges, and lighting moving in wires connected to wall sockets to give power to electrical devices like televisions and computers.

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What is Mechanical Energy?