Introduction
The energy possesed by a body due to its configuration or motion is said to be mechanical energy. It can be categorized into Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy. In other words, the total mechanical energy of a body is the sum of its kinetic energy and potential energy. When a body has the least kinetic energy, it is likely that the body has the highest potential energy at that frame of reference. The converse is also true.
Kinetic Energy
Kinetic Energy (KE) is defined as the energy possesed by a body due to its motion. A body at rest has zero KE. Being a scalar term, a body cannot have negative value of KE. To move a car placed on a table, we do some work on it that accelerates it through certain distance and the body gains velocity (speed). At that point, the work done on the body is stored as KE of the body. So, KE can be defined as the work done on a body to accelerate it from rest until it posses certain velocity.
KE of a body whose mass is ‘m’ and magnitude of velocity – speed is ‘v’ can be calculated as $$\text{KE = }\dfrac{1}{2} \text{ mv}^2$$
Potential Energy
Potential Energy (PE) is defined as the energy possesed by a body due to its position or confiugration. It is defined as the amount of work done to bring a body of unit physical constant in the field of another physical constant without acceleration.
PE of a body whose mass is ‘m
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