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Elastic Potential Energy Formula:
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Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in elastic materials as a result of their stretching or compressing. It is commonly associated with springs but applies to any object that returns to its original shape after being deformed.
The calculator uses the elastic potential energy formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the energy stored in a spring based on its stiffness (spring constant) and how far it has been stretched or compressed from its natural length.
Details: Calculating elastic potential energy is essential in physics and engineering for understanding energy conservation, designing mechanical systems, and analyzing the behavior of springs and elastic materials in various applications.
Tips: Enter spring constant in N/m and displacement in meters. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero.
Q1: What is the spring constant (k)?
A: The spring constant is a measure of the stiffness of a spring. A higher k value indicates a stiffer spring that requires more force to stretch or compress.
Q2: Can this formula be used for any elastic material?
A: Yes, the formula applies to any material that follows Hooke's law, where the force required to stretch or compress is proportional to the displacement.
Q3: What are the units of elastic potential energy?
A: Elastic potential energy is measured in Joules (J) in the SI system.
Q4: Does the displacement have to be from the equilibrium position?
A: Yes, x represents the displacement from the spring's natural, unstretched length (equilibrium position).
Q5: What happens if the spring is compressed instead of stretched?
A: The formula works the same way for both compression and extension, as long as you use the magnitude of the displacement.