Final answer:
The correct unit of mechanical energy is joules (J), which can be written as kg·m²/s², not 'kg/m'. Mechanical energy consists of kinetic and potential energy, and the joule is the standard unit for all forms of energy, including mechanical, thermal, and chemical.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct unit of mechanical energy is neither 'kg/m' nor just 'kg'. Instead, mechanical energy is quantified using the same units as kinetic energy, which is expressed as kilogram meter squared per second squared (kg·m²/s²). This unit is equivalent to the joule (J), named after the physicist James Joule. An example of mechanical energy would be the kinetic energy of a car in motion. If a 1360 kg car is traveling at 26.8 m/s, its kinetic energy would be calculated as 4.88 × 10µ J or 4.88 × 10² kJ. It's important to note that the joule is a measure of any type of energy, whether it's mechanical, thermal, radiant, or chemical.
Moreover, when calculating work or energy, consistently using meters, kilograms, and seconds will ensure that results are in joules. For instance, the expression for mechanical work is a force applied over a distance (Newtons times meters), which also results in a measurement in joules.