Meaning & use

mechanical energy

noun·Academic

The energy an object possesses due to its motion or position, equal to the sum of its kinetic and potential energy.

See it in a sentence

A swinging pendulum continuously converts mechanical energy between kinetic and potential forms.

The roller coaster's mechanical energy stays roughly constant as it climbs and descends.

A note on using this word

Mechanical energy is conserved in the absence of friction, a key principle in physics problems involving motion.

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