What are the two forms of mechanical energy?

The correct choice identifies the two main forms of mechanical energy as mechanical potential energy and mechanical kinetic energy.

Mechanical energy encompasses the energy that is associated with the movement and position of an object. Mechanical kinetic energy refers to the energy of an object in motion, which is dependent on the mass of the object and the speed at which it is moving. The formula for kinetic energy is given by the equation ( KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 ), where ( m ) is mass and ( v ) is velocity.

On the other hand, mechanical potential energy is related to the position or configuration of an object, often in relation to a gravitational field. For instance, an object raised to a certain height possesses potential energy due to the gravitational force acting on it. The formula for gravitational potential energy is ( PE = mgh ), where ( h ) is the height above a reference point, ( m ) is the mass, and ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity.

Understanding these two forms of mechanical energy is crucial in various applications, such as in engineering and physics, as they together account for the total mechanical energy in a system, which can be converted from one form to another in the