What type of energy is controlled by physical forces?

Mechanical energy is indeed the type of energy that is controlled by physical forces. It refers to the energy associated with the motion and position of an object. Mechanical energy can be further divided into kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion, and potential energy, which is stored energy based on the position of an object within a physical system.

The influence of physical forces such as gravity, tension, and friction plays a crucial role in the behavior of mechanical energy. For example, when you lift a weight, you are applying a force against gravity, increasing the object's potential energy. When you drop that weight, the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy as it falls, all governed by the physical forces at play.

In contrast, chemical energy is related to the bonds between atoms in molecules; electrical energy pertains to the energy carried by moving electrons; and thermal energy is associated with the temperature of a substance, arising from the motion of its particles. Each of these types of energy has different governing principles and does not fall under the control of physical forces in the same way that mechanical energy does.