<p align="right">Last Update: <font color="#4f81bd">December 01, 2024</font></p> ## BIG IDEAS - Springs store [[energy]] as it is stretched or compressed. - The amount of [[potential energy]] stored in a spring depends on its spring constant, which reflects the spring's stiffness --- The energy stored in a spring is known as spring potential energy. ### SI Unit $ \ N \cdot m \ = \ 1 \ joule \ (J)$ ### Formula $U \ = \ \frac{1}{2}kx^2 \tag{1}$ where $U$ is the [[potential energy]] $k$ is the [[spring constant]] $x$ is the [[displacement]] of the oscillating body >[!note] >The relationship between potential energy and displacement is quadratic. ### Unit Analysis for $U$ $U = \frac{1}{2}\ kx^{2}$ $\frac{m^{2}}{m} = m$ $U = \frac{N}{m}\ m^{2}$ $U = N \cdot m$ $\frac{m}{m} = 1$ $U = joule$ --- **Guiding Question**: How do I use Hooke's law of deformation, and calculate stored energy in a spring? - [[Mechanical Energy]] is the sum of potential and kinetic energy. $ME = U + K$ > Where $U$ is potential energy and $K$ is kinetic energy. - The SI Unit for energy is joule. - The energy stored in a spring is known as spring potential energy. $U = \frac{1}{2}kx^{2}$ > Where $U$ is the potential energy, $k$ is the spring constant, and $x$ is the displacement. ### Related Topics --- [[Home|Home]] | [[Oscillations]] | [[Periodic Motion]] | [[Simple Harmonic Motion]] | [[Waves]] | [[Module 0 Sound]] | [[Electromagnetic radiation]]