Mechanical+Energy+by+Professor+Wo

A brief start! Work is done upon an object whenever a force acts upon it to cause it to be displaced. Work is force acting upon an object to cause a displacement. In all instances in which work is done, there is an object which gives the force in order to do the work. If a World Civilization book is lifted to the top shelf of a student locker, then the student gives the force to do the work on the book. What Mechanical Really is! Mechanical energy is the energy which is used by an object due to its movement or its stored energy of position. Mechanical energy can be either kinetic energy (energy of movement) or potential energy (stored energy of position). Objects have mechanical energy if they are in motion and/or if they are at some position relative to a zero potential energy position (for example, a brick held at a vertical position above the ground or zero height position). A moving baseball uses mechanical energy due to both its high speed (kinetic energy) and its vertical position above the ground (gravitational potential energy).

An object which uses mechanical energy is able to do work. In fact, mechanical energy is often defined as the ability to do work. Any object which possesses mechanical energy - whether it is in the form of potential energy or kinetic energy - is able to do work. That is, its mechanical energy enables that object to apply a force to another object in order to cause it to be displaced. Examples!!!!!!!!!! A moving car uses mechanical energy due to its motion (kinetic energy). A moving baseball uses mechanical energy due to both its high speed (kinetic energy) and its vertical position above the ground (gravitational potential energy). A World Civilization book at rest on the top shelf of a locker uses mechanical energy due to its vertical position above the ground (gravitational potential energy). A barbell lifted high above a weightlifter's head uses mechanical energy due to its vertical position above the ground (gravitational potential energy). A drawn bow uses mechanical energy due to its stretched position (elastic potential energy). And Finally......... Numerous examples can be given of how an object with mechanical energy can harness that energy in order to apply a force to cause another object to be displaced. A classic example involves the massive wrecking ball of a demolition machine. The wrecking ball is a massive object which is swung backwards to a high position and allowed to swing forward into building structure or other object in order to demolish it. Upon hitting the structure, the wrecking ball applies a force to it in order to cause the wall of the structure to be displaced. And this robot uses mechanical energy with these mechanics!

by Matthew Wo!!!!!!!!