A.3.11—Elastic potential energy Topic Practice
A.3.11—Elastic potential energy Topic Practice
Practise calculating elastic potential energy from spring extension, force balance and work done when a spring is stretched or compressed.
How this is tested
- calculate spring energy from 1/2 kx^2, often finding x first from equilibrium with weight or a stated compression
- apply energy changes when extension falls from x to a fraction of x, deciding the work done by the spring
- link stored elastic energy to speed after release by equating spring energy to the block's kinetic energy