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Mission WE4 Mechanical Energy

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 The Question

Consider the diagram below. The kinetic energy and the potential energy of a car at various locations are shown. The total mechanical energy of the car (or sledd or roller coaster) at position B (or D) is ____ Joules.

 Define Help

Definition of Total Mechanical Energy:
The total mechanical energy possessed by an object is the sum of its kinetic energy and potential energy.

 Think About It

Mechanical energy takes two forms - kinetic and potential. The total amount of mechanical energy is simply the sum of these two amounts. At any given location along the path of a moving object, the total mechanical energy can be determined by adding the kinetic energy and the potential energy at those two locations.

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