A spring of force constant 500 NM-1 is compressed such that its length shortens by 5cm. The energy stored in the spring is?
Answer Details
The energy stored in a spring that has been compressed or stretched is given by the formula:
E = (1/2)kx^2
where E is the energy stored, k is the spring constant, and x is the distance that the spring is compressed or stretched from its equilibrium position.
In this case, the spring has a force constant of 500 Nm^-1 and is compressed by 5 cm or 0.05 m. Therefore, the energy stored in the spring is:
E = (1/2)(500 Nm^-1)(0.05 m)^2 = 0.625 J
Therefore, the energy stored in the spring is 0.625 J.