Mechanical energy is the energy that bodies present due to their movement (kinetic energy), their situation with respect to another body, generally the earth, or their state of deformation, in the case of elastic bodies.. That is, mechanical energy is the sum of potential (energy stored in a system), kinetic (energy that arises in the same motion) and elastic energy of a moving body.
Own energy of bodies in motion
For things to move, it is necessary whenever some type of energy mediates, while the energy that concerns us is that it is produced by the action of various forces, such is the case of elasticity and gravitation. Put in simpler words, in mechanical energy two forces come together, one that brings kinetic energy and on the other hand the one that incorporates the energy of gravity.
Gravitational energy and kinetic energy
Being more specific, we must say that the potential gravitational energy is arranged in any body that is in a state of rest and is called that way because in a body at rest there is a presumption of its ability to move.
For its part, kinetic energy is that which manifests the concrete movement of a body, not the potential, which it is assumed to have, but certainly the one it develops in reality.
It is conditioned by the mass and the speed of movement of the body in question.
For any object that moves it is necessary that it be influenced by a force, meanwhile, the time of that force on the body will influence the speed that the object reaches. The longer there will be a greater speed deployed.
The influence of force
Force is undoubtedly an indispensable condition in this case, and that is why it will always be present and associated with mechanical energy.
Force is precisely what allows a movement to be activated or to cease to be.
Meanwhile, the force may be of various types, friction, gravity, elastic, and in all cases it is measured in Newton, which is the unit of force at the request of the International System of Units, and which was called that way in tribute to scientist and researcher Isaac Newton for his contributions to mechanics.
Through it, the capacity of bodies with mass to carry out this or that work is expressed.
Mechanical energy is conserved, therefore, it is neither created nor destroyed. In the particular case of open systems made up of particles that interact through purely mechanical forces or conservative fields, the energy will remain constant over time. However, there are cases of particle systems in which mechanical energy is not conserved.
Types of mechanical energy and uses
Types of mechanical energy include the following: hydraulic energy (The water will be dropped and the potential energy obtained from it will be used. Its recurrent use is to produce electrical energy and to move flour mills), wind power (It is produced by the winds generated in the earth's atmosphere. It is also used at the request of the production of electrical energy as a mechanism for the extraction of groundwater or of certain types of mills for agriculture) and Seawater energy (produced by the movement of the tides and waves of the sea, it can also be transformed into electrical energy).
Ultimately, as we can see, mechanical energy is super important when it comes to allowing us to generate electrical energy, an energy that is so demanded and essential today for the performance of daily activities and not to mention its contribution in the development and work of the industries.
