1. What is Elastic Potential Energy?

Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in elastic materials as the result of their stretching or compressing. It is equal to the work done to stretch or compress the spring, which depends on the spring constant and the displacement.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the elastic potential energy equation:

Where:

• \( PE_{elastic} \) — Elastic potential energy (Joules)
• \( k \) — Spring constant (N/m)
• \( x \) — Displacement from equilibrium position (m)

Explanation: The energy stored in a spring is proportional to the square of the displacement and the spring's stiffness (spring constant).

3. Importance of Elastic Potential Energy

Details: Understanding elastic potential energy is crucial in designing springs, shock absorbers, and many mechanical systems. It's fundamental in physics and engineering applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter spring constant in N/m and displacement in meters. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the spring constant?
A: The spring constant (k) measures the stiffness of a spring. Higher values mean stiffer springs that require more force to stretch or compress.

Q2: Does this equation work for all springs?
A: This equation applies to ideal springs that obey Hooke's Law, where force is proportional to displacement. Real springs may deviate at extreme displacements.

Q3: What are typical units for elastic potential energy?
A: The SI unit is Joules (J), which equals 1 N·m or 1 kg·m²/s².

Q4: Can this energy be recovered?
A: In ideal systems, all elastic potential energy can be converted back to kinetic energy. Real systems have some energy loss due to friction.

Q5: How does displacement affect the energy?
A: Energy increases with the square of displacement - doubling displacement quadruples the stored energy.