Question

Your book makes a distinction between "The Conservation of Mechanical Energy" and "The Conservation of Energy." How would you explain this distinction to a smart 10 year old?

Answer 1

1. In a system the total energy which means all forms of energy ( Heat , sound, light , chemical energy, electrical energy etc) remains constant. Eneregy may be transferred from one form to another form . It can be neither created not destroyed. ---conservation of energy

2. In a system only conservative forces are acting like spring force, gravitational force, electrostatic force etc

the sum of the potential energy and kinetic energy of the system remains constant.- conservation of mechanical energy.