What is the energy stored in a spring?

The energy stored in a spring is given by the formula 1/2 kx^2, where k is the spring constant and x is the displacement from equilibrium.

When a spring is compressed or stretched from its equilibrium position, it stores potential energy. This potential energy is known as the elastic potential energy and is given by the formula 1/2 kx^2, where k is the spring constant and x is the displacement from equilibrium.

The spring constant, k, is a measure of the stiffness of the spring and is defined as the force required to stretch or compress the spring by a unit length. It is measured in units of force per unit length, such as N/m or kg/s^2.

The displacement, x, is the distance from the equilibrium position of the spring. It is measured in units of length, such as meters or centimeters.

To calculate the energy stored in a spring, we need to know the spring constant and the displacement from equilibrium. Once we have these values, we can substitute them into the formula 1/2 kx^2 to find the energy stored in the spring.

For example, if a spring has a spring constant of 10 N/m and is compressed by 0.2 meters from its equilibrium position, the energy stored in the spring is:

1/2 (10 N/m) (0.2 m)^2 = 0.2 J

Therefore, the energy stored in the spring is 0.2 J.