Physics

Foundations of PhysicsAssignment #12Elastic Potential Energy Notes

Elastic Potential EnergyEnergy associated with the stretching or compression of an elastic materialDepends on the force acting on the elastic material and stretch / compression of the elastic material.

Elastic Potential EnergyEPEEPEEPEFFFElastic Potential Energy

Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic Potential EnergyFrom the graphs, we get an equation Force=spring constant x amount stretched or compressed

Thus, the amount of stretch / compression depends on the amount for force applied to the material and the spring constant of the material.

Elastic Potential EnergyThe F vs. x graph also describes the amount of energy stored in the spring (EPE).FxFxSmall area = Small amount of EPELarge area = Large amount of EPEElastic Potential EnergyThus, the area under the F vs. x graph is the elastic potential energy stored in the material.

The units for energy are Nm (Joule).