3.1 
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Interactive Simulations   Interactive simulation of motion down an inclined plane    Motion down an inclined plane    Interactive simulation of an oscillating spring    Spring-loaded carts simulation    Elastic collisions between two balls    Inelastic collisions between two balls    Interactive simulation of an oscillating spring    Interactive simulation of an oscillating spring    Wind power design simulation Interactive Calculators   Work equation calculator    Kinetic energy equation    Potential energy equation    Elastic potential energy equation    Efficiency equation    Conservation of momentum in collisions equation    Power equation calculator
   Electric power equation    Temperature conversion equation    Specific heat equation
1 - Science of Physics
2 - Forces and Motion3 - Energy Transformations      Chapter 3 at a glance      3.1 - Energy      3.2 - Conservation of energy      3.3 - Flow of energy      3.4 - Temperature and the kinetic theory of matter      3.5 - Chapter review4 - Waves and Sound
5 - Electricity and Magnetism
6 - Light and Optics
7 - The Atom
8 - Linear Motion
9 - Vectors and Forces
10 - Forces
11 - Newton's Laws and Gravitation
12 - Circular Motion and Gravitation
13 - Torque and Static Equilibrium
14 - Momentum and Collisions
15 - Angular momentum
16 - Power and Machines
17 - Harmonic Motion
18 - Waves
19 - Sound
20 - Electricity
21 - Electric and Magnetic Fields
22 - Electromagnetism and Induction
23 - Light and Color
24 - Geometrical Optics
25 - Electromagnetic Radiation
26 - The Properties of Matter
27 - Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
28 - The Atom
29 - The Quantum Theory
30 - TBD
31 - TBD
32 - TBD
33 - TBD
34 - TBD
35 - TBD
36 - TBD
37 - The atomic nucleus and radioactivity
38 - Nuclear reactions
39 - Relativity
40 - Particle physics and the standard model
41 - Electronics (semiconductors)
42 - Nuclear technology
43 - Lasers and photonics
44 - Metals, alloys and materials science
45 - Communications technology
46 - Buildings and structures
47 - Energy technology
48 - Biophysics
49 - Matter and Energy, Space and Time
50 - Energy Transformations
51 - Nanotechnology
52 - Website Videos
53 - ExtraStuff
55 - Modeling Motion, Friction, and Center of Mass
56 - Work and the Conservation of Energy
Elastic potential energy
Different forms of potential energy
Elastic potential energy of a springElastic potential energy There are forms of potential energy other than gravitational. Potential energy exists any time a force is restrained from acting in such a way that the energy can be released if the restraint is removed. If you use the spring to launch a marble you can see how the stored potential energy of the spring is converted to kinetic energy of the marble. Compressing a spring creates potential energy because you have to do work against the force of the spring to compress it. A compressed spring stores potential energy as long as it is compressed. This type of potential energy is called elastic potential energy because it derives from the elasticity of the steel in the spring.
Elastic potential energy equation
(3.4) E p = 1 2 k x 2
Ep  = elastic potential energy (J)
k  = spring constant (N/m)
x  = displacement from equilibrium (m)
Elastic potential energy
Spring constant Spring uncompressed and compressed along with a calculation of the stored elastic potential energy The quantity k in equation (3.4) is called the spring constant, which represents the strength of the restoring force exerted by the spring when it is compressed or stretched. The spring constant is different for every spring or other elastic material. It has units of force divided by distance, because the spring exerts a restoring force that increases as the spring is increasingly displaced (stretched or compressed) from its equilibrium position. A stiff spring resists compression or stretching, so it has a large value of the spring constant k; a loose spring has a low value of k. Show Hooke's law
Elastic PE from objects changing shape Objects that store elastic potential energy share some common features: energy is stored when the object changes its form, shape, or length; the force exerted by the elastic object acts in a direction to return it back to its original shape or position; and as it stretches or compresses more, it stores more energy. Show Elastic potential energy and your muscles
Objects with elastic potential energy
Show Other objects with elastic potential energy
Test your knowledge Does a Slinky® or a car's suspension spring have a greater spring constant value? Show

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