1. What is Elastic Potential Energy?

Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in elastic materials as a result of their stretching or compressing. It is the energy that can be recovered when the object returns to its original shape.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the elastic potential energy formula:

Where:

• \( U \) — Elastic potential energy (Joules)
• \( k \) — Spring constant (Newtons per meter)
• \( x \) — Displacement from equilibrium position (meters)

Explanation: The formula shows that elastic potential energy is proportional to the square of the displacement and directly proportional to the spring constant.

3. Importance of Elastic Energy Calculation

Details: Calculating elastic potential energy is crucial in physics and engineering for understanding spring systems, mechanical devices, energy conservation, and designing various mechanical systems.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the spring constant?
A: The spring constant (k) measures the stiffness of a spring. A higher k value means a stiffer spring that requires more force to stretch or compress.

Q2: Why is the displacement squared in the formula?
A: The displacement is squared because the work done in stretching or compressing a spring increases quadratically with displacement, following Hooke's Law.

Q3: What are typical units for elastic potential energy?
A: The standard unit is Joules (J), which is equivalent to Newton-meters (N·m).

Q4: Does this formula apply to all elastic materials?
A: This formula specifically applies to ideal springs that obey Hooke's Law. For non-linear elastic materials, more complex formulas are needed.

Q5: Can elastic potential energy be negative?
A: No, elastic potential energy is always positive or zero since both k and x² are always positive values.