Spring Potential Energy – AP Physics 1 | ShowMeClass

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Spring Potential Energy

AP Physics 1 · Unit 3: Work & Energy

Learning Objectives

Apply Hooke's Law: F = −kx

Calculate elastic PE stored in a spring: Us = ½kx²

Trace energy conversion between Us, KE, and PE

Connect SHM period to spring constant and mass

Key Equations

Energy Conservation

At maximum displacement: all energy is Us, KE=0. At equilibrium: all energy is KE, Us=0. Total mechanical energy is constant (no friction).

SpringHooke's LawSHMAP Physics 1

Spring constant k (N/m) 50

Mass m (kg) 2.0

Initial displacement x₀ (m) 0.30

Damping b 0.00

Spring PE (Us)—

Kinetic E (KE)—

Total E—

Period T—

x(t)—

📝 Quick Quiz▼

1. A spring with k = 200 N/m is compressed 0.1 m. Elastic PE stored is:

20 J 2 J 1 J 10 J

2. For a spring-mass system, doubling mass m changes the period by:

× 2 × √2 × 4 No change

3. At the equilibrium position of a spring-mass system, which is true?

KE = 0, PE = max KE = max, PE = 0 KE = PE Both KE and PE = 0