Spring Potential Energy & Hooke's Law Worksheet

Spring Potential Energy & Hooke's Law

Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Show your work for any calculations.

1. What type of energy is stored in a stretched or compressed spring?

2. Hooke's Law describes the relationship between the force applied to a spring and its:

1. The more a spring is stretched or compressed, the more   energy it stores.

2. Hooke's Law states that the force needed to extend or compress a spring by some distance is proportional to that  .

3. The constant of proportionality in Hooke's Law is called the spring  .

1. A spring that is compressed has less potential energy than a spring at rest.

2. According to Hooke's Law, if you double the force on a spring, its extension will also double.

1. Look at the image below. Describe what is happening to the spring in each picture in terms of force and energy.

2. Explain how a spring scale (like the one shown below) uses Hooke's Law to measure weight.

1. A spring has a spring constant of 50 N/m. If you stretch the spring by 0.2 meters, what force did you apply?

2. If a force of 10 N stretches a spring by 0.05 meters, what is the spring constant of the spring?