What is elastic potential energy?

The energy stored in an object when it is stretched or squashed.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is the spring constant?

An object's spring constant is a measure of how many Newtons of force it would require to stretch (or compress) the object by 1 metre. It has the units N/m. It's basically a measure of how firm (or stiff) the spring is.


A higher spring constant means the spring is more firm (harder to stretch). A lower spring constant means the spring is less firm (easier to stretch).

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

When discussing elastic potential energy, what does extension (e) mean? 

The extension (e) of an object is how much longer or shorter it is, due to being stretched or squashed. 

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

When discussing elastic potential energy, what units should extension (e) be in?

Metres (m)

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is the formula for elastic potential energy?

Ee​=21​ke2

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is the formula that links force, spring constant and extension? 

F = ke

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

Above is a force-extension graph. What does the gradient of the straight part of the line tell you?

The straight part of the line tells you the spring constant.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

Above is a force-extension graph. What does the area under the curve tell us?

Elastic potential energy.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

Above is a force-extension graph. What do we call the point where the line transitions from straight to curved?

The limit of proportionality


or


The elastic limit

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.