Question

I need a summary on mechanical energy, including potential and kinetic energy. Please use the example of a skater in a ramp (at the top of the ramp the skater has all potential energy no kinetic energy, and at the bottom of the ramp the skater has no potential energy all kinetic energy). Please explain why a situation's potential+kinetic energy is equal to the total amount of mechanical energy.

Answer 1

The mechanical energy of an object is defined as sum of kinetic energy and potential energy.

i.e M.E=K.E+P.E

Now when object is at top of ramp and is at rest so K.E=0, but P.E is maximam if we take reference at bottom of ramp.

When object reaches at bottom all its P.E is converted ino K.E.