Mechanical energy
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In physics, mechanical energy describes the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy present in the components of a mechanical system. Mechanical energy is the energy associated with the motion or position of an object.[1][2]
Distinguished from other types of energy
The classification of energy into different "types" often follows the boundaries of the fields of study in the natural sciences.
- Chemical energy, the kind of potential energy stored in chemical bonds; studied in chemistry
- Nuclear energy, energy stored in interactions between the particles in the atomic nucleus; studied in nuclear physics
- Electromagnetic energy, in the form of electric charges, magnetic fields, and photons; from the study of electromagnetism
- Various forms of energy in quantum mechanics; for example, the energy levels of electrons in an atom