What exactly is mechanical energy?

[tor2006]

Regards my question is the following.

I know that mechanical energy is considered as a sum of potential and kinetic energy. But I still do not understand exactly what is the mechanical energy.Whether kinetic energy and potential energy are forms of mechanical energy or that the kinetic and potential energy is converted into a mechanical energy of the object.

 

[Chandra Prayaga]

It is a matter of definition. You define mechanical energy as the sum of kinetic and potential energies. So once you understand those two, you understand what is mechanical energy. Mechanical energy is not a different form of energy into which the kinetic and potential energies are converted.

 

[russ_watters]

Regards my question is the following.

I know that mechanical energy is considered as a sum of potential and kinetic energy. But I still do not understand exactly what is the mechanical energy.Whether kinetic energy and potential energy are forms of mechanical energy or that the kinetic and potential energy is converted into a mechanical energy of the object.

They are forms of mechanical energy, involving force and mass and distance. This is as opposed to electrical energy which is based on charge and voltage...or nuclear energy or chemical energy...

 

[Chandra Prayaga]

Electrostatic potential energy is still part of the mechanical energy.

 

[russ_watters]

Electrostatic potential energy is still part of the mechanical energy.

There is overlap/meeting.

 

[Dr.D]

Energy is the capability to do work. Thus electrochemical energy is a wet cell battery is able to turn the starter motor on your car when coupled to the necessary conversion machinery. Kinetic energy is energy due to motion, while all other forms (electrostatic, magnetostatic, chemical, etc) are stored forms of energy and fall in the category of potential energy.