5.3 Springs and Elastic Potential Energy | General Physics

Chad provides a lesson on Springs and Elastic Potential Energy. He begins with an introduction to the restoring force of springs and Hooke's Law (F=-kx) as well as the formula for elastic potential energy (PE=1/2kx^2). He shows how the restoring force of a spring is proportional to both the displacement from the equilibrium position and to the spring constant, k. He explains how the restoring force of a spring is a conservative force which is why an associated potential energy is possible. Chad then shows how this new form of potential energy can be incorporated into the conservation of mechanical energy when there are no nonconservative forces.

Chad then moves on to springs practice problems. The first is a simple calculation involving Hooke's law. The second problem is a conservation of mechanical energy problem where the velocity of a mass on a spring must be calculated as it passes through the equilibrium position. The last problem is also a conservation of mechanical energy problem where both gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy must be accounted for.

00:00 Lesson Introduction
00:47 Hooke's Law for a Spring
03:10 Elastic Potential Energy of a Spring
12:51 Hooke's Law Problem for a Spring
16:37 Conservation of Mechanical Energy Problem with Elastic PE
20:53 Conservation of Mechanical Energy Problem with Elastic PE & Gravitational PE

[MeganClark-Bolanos]

love the channel! but I want to confirm that at 20:39 the answer is 4m/s not 16m/s, since you need to take the square root. thanks again for all the help, I really love the channel

[killab]

Thank U Sir, U are really taking the stress outta learning science, all the way from South Africa

[tuckerlanoue]

Thank you so much! Super helpful for my exam. I do have one question: Should V1 (written down at 19:29) be squared, as in (V1)^2? And if so, would 16m/s be square rooted, providing a final answer of V1=4m/s?

[killab]

Thank you a lot sir, you are really taking stress outta learning science, Big ups! all the way from South Africa

[kileyadams]

Should the answer for the first example problem be 4? What happed to the v^2, we didn't square root either side. Thanks for the help Chaddy Daddy, you always help me bounce back!

[sirenofamphitrite]

26:16, why is the PE gravity final not a negative force, since gravity is pulling it downward?

[alibilginler]

13:30 always applied force=− restoring force
and applied force=kx, right? 🙂😊 thank you teacher chad