1. What is the Total Energy Equation?

The Total Energy equation calculates the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy in a system. It represents the complete mechanical energy of an object or system, which remains constant in conservative systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Total Energy equation:

Where:

• \( TE \) — Total Energy (Joules)
• \( KE \) — Kinetic Energy (Joules)
• \( PE \) — Potential Energy (Joules)

Explanation: The equation simply adds the kinetic energy (energy of motion) and potential energy (stored energy) to determine the total mechanical energy of the system.

3. Importance of Total Energy Calculation

Details: Calculating total energy is fundamental in physics for analyzing mechanical systems, understanding energy conservation, and solving problems related to motion and position in gravitational or elastic fields.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both kinetic energy and potential energy values in Joules. All values must be non-negative numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is kinetic energy?
A: Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion, calculated as \( KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \) where m is mass and v is velocity.

Q2: What is potential energy?
A: Potential energy is stored energy due to an object's position or configuration, such as gravitational potential energy \( PE = mgh \) or elastic potential energy.

Q3: When is total energy conserved?
A: Total mechanical energy is conserved in conservative systems where only conservative forces (like gravity) act, with no energy loss to friction or other non-conservative forces.

Q4: What are the units of energy?
A: The SI unit for energy is the Joule (J), which is equivalent to kg·m²/s².

Q5: Can total energy be negative?
A: While kinetic energy is always positive, potential energy can be negative (depending on reference point), so total energy can also be negative in certain systems.