Final answer:
Kinetic energy is the type of energy an object has due to its motion, while potential energy is the stored energy an object has due to its position or condition. The mechanical energy of an object is the combination of its potential and kinetic energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kinetic energy is the type of energy an object has due to its motion. The faster an object moves and the more mass it has, the more kinetic energy it possesses. For example, a truck moving at 100 km/hr will have more kinetic energy than a car moving at the same speed due to its greater mass.
Potential energy is the stored energy an object has due to its position or condition. Gravitational potential energy, for instance, is the energy an object possesses because of its elevated position in the Earth's gravitational field.
The mechanical energy of an object is the combination of its potential and kinetic energy. The total mechanical energy of an isolated system remains constant according to the Law of Conservation of Mechanical Energy.