Elastic Potential Energy

• Elastic potential energy


  The energy stored in a material due to forces stretching or compressing the bonds within it
• Relationship between force and extension

  Directly proportional relationship known as Hooke's law
• Hooke's Law


  Describes how the force exerted by a spring is directly proportional to the distance the spring is extended or compressed
• Springs that exhibit elastic behavior can do work with the elastic potential energy when the applied force is removed
• When force is not constant, the work done by the force can be calculated by determining the area under the force vs distance curve
• If the force is increased further after exceeding the elastic limit, the breaking point is reached where the material falls or breaks down
• If the force is increased beyond the elastic limit of a spring or other elastic material, permanent deformation occurs
• A stiffer spring has a greater spring constant, as shown by the gradient of the graph
• The spring constant 'k' is a measure of the stiffness of the spring
• When considering the work done in deforming a spring, the applied force is directly proportional to displacement
• It is relatively easy to start stretching a spring, but more force is required for each incremental amount of extension