Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in an elastic object when work is done on the object.
Elastic potential energy is stored in springs, rubber bands, and other objects that can change shape by stretching, bending or compressing.
When a spring is stretched, work is done on the spring which results in energy being transferred to the elastic potential store of the spring.
When the spring is released, energy is transferred away from its elastic potential store.
The extension, e, of a stretched spring can be determined using the equation: e = ΔL/L0, where ΔL is the change in length and L0 is the initial length.
The amount of elastic potential energy stored in a stretched spring can be calculated using the equation: Ee = ½ × k × e2, where k is the spring constant in newtons per metre (N/m) and e is the extension in metres (m).
The elastic potential energy equation assumes that the spring has not been stretched beyond its limit of proportionality.
A spring has been stretched beyond the limit of proportionality when the spring on the right is compared to the spring on the left.