At the end of the 3cm compression of the spring of the children’s spring gun

At the end of the 3cm compression of the spring of the children’s spring gun, the applied force was 20N. Find the potential energy of a compressed spring.

dx = 3 centimeters = 0.03 meters – the amount of compression of the spring;

F = 20 Newtons – the force applied to the spring.

It is required to find E (Joule) – the potential energy of a compressed spring.

Find the coefficient of spring stiffness:

k = F / dx.

Then the potential energy will be equal to:

E = k * dx ^ 2/2 = F * dx ^ 2 / (2 * dx) = F * dx / 2;

E = 20 * 0.03 / 2 = 10 * 0.03 = 0.3 Joule.

Answer: The potential energy of a compressed spring is 0.3 Joule.