EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -’Mechanical’ energy is the total amount of potential and kinetic energy in a system. When a plant falls from a window its ‘thermal’ energy is transformed into kinetic energy. The ‘law of conservation of energy’ states that although energy can change forms it can never be created or destroyed.

Detailed explanation-2: -For example, in a steam engine, pistons remove some thermal energy from hot gases. The steam engine then uses these moving pistons to power whatever it is hooked up to, thus converting thermal energy into kinetic energy.

Detailed explanation-3: -Kinetic energy gets converted into thermal energy when there is a rise in the object’s temperature. When you heat any substance, the kinetic energy increases due to random and rapid movement of all the particles; during this increase in motion, they collide and produce thermal energy.