Non-Mechanical Energy

The Non-Mechanical Energy Video Tutorial explains what non-mechanical energy is and how it is different than mechanical energy. Five non-mechanical energy forms are described and examples are given of each. The emphasis of the video is on developing the skill of keeping track of energy.

The video lesson answers the following questions:

1. What is meant by non-mechanical energy?
2. What are examples of non-mechanical energy?
3. How can you keep track of mechanical and non-mechanical forms of energy?

Video

You can watch the video below, or click here to watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

To improve the effectiveness of the learning experience, The Physics Classroom has provided the following tools:

Additional and Related Learning Tools

Concept Builder, Work and Energy Section: Work
In this Concept Builder, you will learn to identify whether positive, negative, or zero work is being done, to identify the force that is doing the work, and to describe the energy transformation associated with such work. It's this third activity that is most associated with this video.

Concept Builder, Work and Energy Section: Name That Energy
Gain some familiarity with the three forms of mechanical energy with this interactive exerise.

Concept Builder, Work and Energy Section: What's Up (and Down) with KE and PE
Read a physical description and identify whether the KE (and the PE) is increasing or decreasing.

Physics Tutorial - Work, Energy, and Power Chapter
When you need to brush up on any topic, we recommend a trip to the Physics Classroom Tutorial. Its easy-to-understand language combined with informative graphics and appeals to your sense of reason make this a powerful learning tool.

Teacher Resources

Curriculum Corner, Work, Energy, and Power Section: Energy
Get students active and thinking with one of our free Think Sheets from the Curriclum Corner section of our website. You may not find one that is perfect for this vide ... but you're likely to find several that have relevance to your current unit.

Teacher Toolkits, Work-Energy Fundamentals
Try a Teacher Toolkit ... you might be very glad that you did. Each toolkit includes annotated links to vetted resources from across the web that we feel reliably support the specific topic. Give this one on work and energy a try.

Concept Builder, Work and Energy Section: Work
In this Concept Builder, students will learn to identify whether positive, negative, or zero work is being done, to identify the force that is doing the work, and to describe the energy transformation associated with such work. It's this third activity that is most closely associated with this video.

Concept Builder, Work and Energy Section: Name That Energy
Students gain some familiarity with the three forms of mechanical energy with this interactive exerise.

Concept Builder, Work and Energy Section: What's Up (and Down) with KE and PE
Students read a physical description and identify whether the KE (and the PE) is increasing or decreasing. Great practice ... even if it isn't a perfect fit to this video.

Physics Tutorial - Work, Energy, and Power Chapter
Our Tutorial section is the textbook on the site. Its also the most trafficked section of the site. And for good reason. It proves time and again that anyone can understand Physics. Point troubled students to this page. Point all your students to this page.

Lesson Notes

Download (opens in a new tab) or view below

Slides

Do you like the slides we used? They are available in our low cost Teacher Presentation Pack, along with other updated materials used in our presentation.