Final answer:
The initial and final mechanical energies of the system can be expressed symbolically in terms of the final velocity (v), mass (m), gravitational acceleration (g), and height (h).
Step-by-step explanation:
The initial and final mechanical energies of the system can be expressed symbolically in terms of the final velocity (v), mass (m), gravitational acceleration (g), and height (h). The initial mechanical energy (Ei) is given by Ei = mgh, where h is the initial height. The final mechanical energy (Ef) is given by Ef = 1/2 mv^2 + mgh, where v is the final velocity. This is based on the conservation of mechanical energy principle, which states that the total kinetic and potential energies of a system remain constant in the absence of non-conservative forces.