Chapter 1 Conservation and dissipation of energy

P1.5 Kinetic energy and elastic energy stores Oct 5, 2023

Elastic potential
energy (Ee)

SPECIFICATION:
4.1.1 Energy changes in a system, and the ways
energy is stored before and after such changes 10
What is the energy transfer?
Elastic potential energy (Ep)
Energy of a stretched or squashed material
 The spring constant, k,
indicates the stiffness
of the spring.

Ee = ½ k e 2

Elastic
potential Extension
energy. squared.

Elastic potential
= ½ × spring constant × extension2
energy
 Question

This spring has a spring constant, k,

of 250N/m.

What does this mean?

A force of 250N would be required

to stretch this spring by 1m.
Question
A mobility aid uses a steel spring to store energy
when pressed down. The spring constant is
250N/m. Calculate the elastic potential energy in
the spring when its extension is 0.21m

Ee = ½ k e 2
Ee
Ee = ½ x 250 x 0.212

Ee = 5.5J
0.5 k e 2
 Calculate how much work is
Question done on a catapult if the force
to pull the elastic is 20 N and
the elastic stretches by 0.1 m.
Remember:
Formula first
Substitution second.
Give the unit.

Ee = ½ k e 2
Ee
Ee = ½ x 20 x 0.12

Ee = 0.1J 0.5 k e 2
 Challenge Question
The elastic potential energy stored in one
particular sling is 0.5J.
Calculate the maximum speed of the stone after
the catapult is released.
The mass of the stone is 0.05 kg.

All the elastic

potential energy
store of the elastic
is transferred to
the kinetic energy
store of the stone
We have previously worked out:
Ee = 0.1J

v2 = Ek
v2 = = 4 0.5 m v 2

v = = 2 m/s
Bungee jump / Energy stored
in a spring toy

Potential energy is stored

e2 energy.
h E.g gravitational and elastic
e1 potential energy.