The purpose of this article is to understand the Conservation of Mechanical Energy. You will also find much other important information that you need to know. For a better understanding of the Conservation of Mechanical Energy, it is important to discuss what is energy and what are the different forms in which it conserves.

Introduction

Energy is referred to by scientists as the capacity for work. People have figured out how to transform energy from one form to another and then use it to accomplish tasks, making modern civilization possible. Humans need the energy to move around on foot and by bicycle, move vehicles along highways and through water, cook meals on stoves, make ice in freezers, light their homes and workplaces, create goods, and launch astronauts into space. The basic principle of energy is that it conserves all the time. Mechanical energy is the energy that deals with the motion and position of any object. Conservation of mechanical energy is a very important topic for different competitive examinations.

Mechanical energy

It is the energy of movement or the energy of a moving item. It is basically the study of physical science. The energy of motion is present in every aspect of daily life, and it is necessary for the functioning of numerous systems and all life forms. The energy an object has when moving or the energy it retains owing to its location is referred to as mechanical energy, also known as kinetic energy or potential energy. Renewable energy is also produced by mechanical energy. Several renewable energy sources rely on mechanical energy to efficiently create electricity or convert energy. It is the combination of different forms of energy like light, sound, electrical, nuclear, chemical, and heat energy.

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

In a closed system with no dissipative forces (such as friction or air resistance), the overall amount of mechanical energy remains constant. It is neither created nor destroyed. It can only change its form if the system is being affected by conservative forces. There are some basic examples are described below to understand this law better.

• In a hydropower plant, the potential energy of water is converted into kinetic energy of turbine blades which is further converted into electricity by rotating the rotor of the generator.
• The chemical energy of fuel in the car is converted into kinetic energy by the engine mechanism. The energy is converted to provide motion, oppose air resistance, production of heat due to friction of parts, etc.
• Nuclear energy from nuclear fuel is utilized to produce high-pressure steam which is further utilized to run the turbine blades.

Derivation

Let’s think about an object moving in one dimension while being subjected to conservative forces. Let the value of conservative force is F which moves the object some distance. Now from the work-energy theorem, we know that

Total Work = change in kinetic energy

We know that change in potential energy is equal to the negative conservative work.

Where represents the conservative work.

So,

Or,

If there is a smooth surface and external force is absent.

Then,

As we know the combination of the kinetic energy of the body and potential energy of the body is called mechanical energy. Thus the above final equation is called conservation of mechanical energy.

Which is,

Initial mechanical energy = Final mechanical energy

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