Understanding the Work Done by a Spring: Hooke's Law Explained
Discover how the work done by a spring is determined by displacement and spring constant, as defined by Hooke's Law.
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The work done by a spring depends on the displacement from its equilibrium position and the spring constant (k). This relationship is defined by Hooke’s Law, where the force exerted by the spring is F = -kx. The work done to stretch or compress the spring is given by the formula W = 1/2 k x^2, where x represents the displacement from equilibrium.
FAQs & Answers
- What is Hooke's Law? Hooke's Law states that the force exerted by a spring is proportional to the displacement from its equilibrium position, expressed as F = -kx, where k is the spring constant.
- How do you calculate the work done on a spring? The work done to stretch or compress a spring can be calculated using the formula W = 1/2 k x^2, where W is the work, k is the spring constant, and x is the displacement from the spring's equilibrium position.
- What factors affect the work done by a spring? The work done by a spring is influenced by the spring constant (k) and the amount of displacement (x) from the spring's equilibrium position.
- What is meant by the equilibrium position of a spring? The equilibrium position of a spring is the point at which the spring is neither compressed nor stretched, resulting in zero net force acting on it.