Why in the Spring Potential Energy equation is x^2 and not just x?

Because elastic potential energy is Average force multiplied by the extension so (1/2kx)(x)=1/2kx^2

hi, does anyone know the difference between a potential energy and force? I would rlly appreciate it if anyone would help me out!

Hi there! Potential energy is stored energy in an object due to its situation/position that can be converted into other kinds of energy, such as kinetic energy, while a force is a type of influence on an object that can cause/change the motion of the object.

how can i calculate the spring constant of 2 spring-like object joined together?

A system of two springs with spring constants `k₁` and `k₂` linked together is the same as a larger spring with spring constant `k`, which can be found with the equation `k=(k₁k₂)/(k₁+k₂)`.

F=-Kx Then work should be = -Kx^2 why is it 1/2-Kx^2

Work is force times distance, yes. But, the work done by stretching (compressing) a spring is not constant, since more force is required as the displacement increases. So, a better way to look at it is "Work from x1 to x2 = F * (x2 - x1)". Or, Delta W = F * Delta x. The total work done by stretching from x0 to xn is Sum(Delta W) = Sum(F* Delta x), and as Delta x -> 0, this becomes W = the integral of F dx, from x=x0 to x=xn. The integral of F = kx is (1/2) k x^2.

What is K as an approximate value?

`k` is the spring constant for a specific spring and differs for different springs (as a value for its stiffness); therefore, there is no specific value for it.

Main content

Class 11 Physics (India) - Hindi

Course: Class 11 Physics (India) - Hindi > Unit 4

Lesson 5: Spring potential energy and Hooke's law (Hindi)

Spring potential energy and Hooke's law review

Google Classroom

Review the key concepts, equations, and skills for spring potential energy and Hooke's law. Understand how to analyze a spring force vs. displacement graph.

Key terms

Term (symbol)	Meaning
Spring	Object that can extend or contract and return to the original shape.
Spring constant ( $k$ ‍)	Measure of a spring’s stiffness, where a more stiff spring has a larger $k$ ‍. SI units of $\frac{N}{m}$ ‍.
Spring force ( ${\vec{F}}_{s}$ ‍)	Force applied by a spring given by Hooke’s law. SI units of $N$ ‍.
Elastic potential energy ( $U_{s}$ ‍)	Potential energy stored as a result of applying a force to deform a spring-like object. SI units of $J$ ‍.

[What happens when a spring is stretched too far?]

Equations

Equation	Symbols	Meaning in words
$\| {\vec{F}}_{s} \| = k \| \vec{x} \|$ ‍	${\vec{F}}_{s}$ ‍ is spring force, $\vec{x}$ ‍ is length of extension or compression relative to the unstretched length, and $k$ ‍ is spring constant	The magnitude of the force required to change the length of a spring-like object is directly proportional to the spring constant and the displacement of the spring.
$U_{s} = \frac{1}{2} k x^{2}$ ‍	$U_{s}$ ‍ is the elastic potential energy	Elastic potential energy is directly proportional to the square of the change in length and the spring constant.

Hooke’s law

The force required to stretch an elastic object such as a metal spring is directly proportional to the extension of the spring for small distances. The force exerted back by the spring is known as Hooke's law

{\vec{F}}_{s} = - k \vec{x}

Where

F_{s}

is the force exerted by the spring,

x

is the displacement relative to the unstretched length of the spring, and

k

is the spring constant.

The spring force is called a restoring force because the force exerted by the spring is always in the opposite direction to the displacement. This is why there is a negative sign in the Hooke’s law equation. Pulling down on a spring stretches the spring downward, which results in the spring exerting an upward force.

[How do we find x?]

How to analyze a spring force vs. displacement graph

The area under the force in the spring vs. displacement curve is the work done on the spring. Figure 1 shows a plot of force on the spring vs. displacement, where displacement is

0

when the spring is unstretched. The work done on a spring stores elastic potential energy

U_{s}

in the spring until the spring goes back to its original length. Therefore,

U_{s}

is equal to the work done and also to the area under the curve.

The area is a triangle with the following equation:

\begin{aligned} U_{s} & = \frac{1}{2} base \cdot height \\ = \frac{1}{2} x \cdot k x \\ = \frac{1}{2} k x^{2} \end{aligned}

Note that the spring constant

k

is the slope of the line since

k = \frac{| \vec{F} |}{| \vec{x} |}

Common mistakes and misconceptions

Although the spring force is a restoring force and has a negative sign, the elastic potential energy $U_{s}$ ‍ cannot be negative. As soon as the spring is stretched or compressed, there is positive potential energy stored in the spring.

Learn more

For deeper explanations of elastic potential energy, see our video introducing springs and Hooke's law and the video on potential energy stored in a spring.

To check your understanding and work toward mastering these concepts, check out the exercise on calculating spring force and the exercise on calculating elastic potential energy.

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vjammulapati
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to vjammulapati's post “Why in the Spring Potenti...”
Why in the Spring Potential Energy equation is x^2 and not just x?
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Answer
- alanoudalm206
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to alanoudalm206's post “Because elastic potential...”
  Because elastic potential energy is Average force multiplied by the extension so (1/2kx)(x)=1/2kx^2
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  (4 votes)
Amy Wang
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Amy Wang's post “hi, does anyone know the ...”
hi, does anyone know the difference between a potential energy and force? I would rlly appreciate it if anyone would help me out!
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(6 votes)
Answer
- J Wu
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to J Wu's post “Hi there! Potential energ...”
  Hi there! Potential energy is stored energy in an object due to its situation/position that can be converted into other kinds of energy, such as kinetic energy, while a force is a type of influence on an object that can cause/change the motion of the object.
  Comment on J Wu's post “Hi there! Potential energ...”
  (12 votes)
Санжаа Санждорж
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Санжаа Санждорж's post “how can i calculate the s...”
how can i calculate the spring constant of 2 spring-like object joined together?
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(3 votes)
Answer
- Qwerty Uiop
  Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to Qwerty Uiop's post “A system of two springs w...”
  A system of two springs with spring constants k₁ and k₂ linked together is the same as a larger spring with spring constant k, which can be found with the equation k=(k₁k₂)/(k₁+k₂).
  Button navigates to signup page
  (2 votes)
Kanishk Jethva
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Kanishk Jethva's post “F=-Kx Then work should be...”
F=-Kx Then work should be = -Kx^2 why is it 1/2-Kx^2
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(2 votes)
Answer
- Casey.Milestone
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Casey.Milestone's post “Work is force times dista...”
  Work is force times distance, yes. But, the work done by stretching (compressing) a spring is not constant, since more force is required as the displacement increases. So, a better way to look at it is "Work from x1 to x2 = F * (x2 - x1)". Or, Delta W = F * Delta x. The total work done by stretching from x0 to xn is Sum(Delta W) = Sum(F* Delta x), and as Delta x -> 0, this becomes W = the integral of F dx, from x=x0 to x=xn. The integral of F = kx is (1/2) k x^2.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
MaxS0348
Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to MaxS0348's post “how do you find k without...”
how do you find k without f and only x
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(2 votes)
Answer
dena escot
Posted 8 months ago. Direct link to dena escot's post “Although the spring force...”
Although the spring force is a restoring force and has a negative sign, the elastic potential energy cannot be negative

when the spring come back to its original length , it release the elastic potential energy which is stored in it , can this energy be negative as an indication of releasing ?
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(1 vote)
Answer
csliwa1224
Posted a year ago. Direct link to csliwa1224's post “How do we find the spring...”
How do we find the spring constant (k) if the initial problem doesn't show it (i.e is the an equation to find k)?
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(1 vote)
Answer
saimmunshi
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to saimmunshi's post “When a spring is pulled a...”
When a spring is pulled away from the its resting position, is the restorative force negative?
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(1 vote)
Answer
- KLaudano
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to KLaudano's post “It depends on which direc...”
  It depends on which direction is defined to be positive/negative. Stretching a spring will result in a restorative force with the opposite sign of the restorative force caused by compressing the spring.
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  (1 vote)
nambu062
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to nambu062's post “Why does a spring do more...”
Why does a spring do more work from X=A to X=A/2 than X=A/2 to X=0?
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(1 vote)
Answer
- itpc932874
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to itpc932874's post “Work is equal to force ti...”
  Work is equal to force times distance, w=fd. For a spring, f=-kx. So a stretched out or compressed spring will exert more work when x is higher.
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  (1 vote)
Abdurrehman Raja
Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to Abdurrehman Raja's post “What is K as an approxima...”
What is K as an approximate value?
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(0 votes)
Answer
- Qwerty Uiop
  Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to Qwerty Uiop's post “`k` is the spring constan...”
  k is the spring constant for a specific spring and differs for different springs (as a value for its stiffness); therefore, there is no specific value for it.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (2 votes)