Mechanical, Potential and Kinetic EnergyA series of free High School Physics Video Lessons from Brightstorm online Physics series..
Mechanical Energy An object's ability to do work is measured by its mechanical energy, or the sum the object's kinetic energy and potential energy. Mechanical energy is due to the position or movement of an object. The formula for mechanical energy is mechanical energy = kinetic energy + potential energy.
Potential Energy Objects store energy in the form of potential energy. Chemical potential energy is an object's potential to undergo an exothermic reaction; spring potential energy is a compressed spring's potential to expand; and gravitational potential energy is an object's potential to fall from a high altitude to a low altitude. The formula for potential energy is gravitational potential energy = mass * acceleration due to gravity * height.
Kinetic Energy The energy of an object in motion is called kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is defined as the energy needed for an object to accelerate from a resting position to its current velocity. kinetic energy = 1/2 mass x velocity^2.
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