Energy _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Forms of energy. Mechanical energy
We can identify specific forms of energy:
- MECHANICAL ENERGY is the energy of mechanical systems, such as a ball rolling on a ramp, or a swimmer jumping into a pool. Mechanical energy can be in three forms:
• Gravitational potential energy is the energy of an object or system due to gravitational attraction. For example, imagine that you pick up an apple and hold it up above your head. Like a stretched rubber band, the apple has the ability to change position. If you release the apple, it will fall. We can calculate the potential energy of the apple that is going to be released from a high window, or the gravitational potential energy of the water in a reservoir used for hydropower.
• Kinetic energy is energy due to the motion of an object. A speeding car, a baseball lofted into the air, and a skier sliding downhill are all examples of objects with kinetic energy.
• Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in a stretched spring, rubber band, or other elastic material.