Why f= kx

Elastic energy is the potential mechanical energy stored in the configuration of a material or physical system when work is performed to distort its volume or shape. For example, the potential energy PE el stored in a spring is. It is possible to calculate the work done in deforming a system in order to find the energy stored.

This work is performed by an applied force F app. Elastic energy of or within a substance is static energy of configuration. It corresponds to energy stored principally by changing the inter-atomic distances between nuclei.

Thermal energy is the randomized distribution of kinetic energy within the material, resulting in statistical fluctuations of the material about the equilibrium configuration. There is some interaction, however. This energy can also produce macroscopic vibrations sufficiently lacking in randomization to lead to oscillations that are merely the exchange between elastic potential energy within the object and the kinetic energy of motion of the object as a whole.

Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. ElQwerto ElQwerto 21 1 1 gold badge 1 1 silver badge 4 4 bronze badges. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. Mitchell 4, 4 4 gold badges 20 20 silver badges 37 37 bronze badges.

Keshav Keshav 49 1 1 silver badge 3 3 bronze badges. The equation is a result of hooke's law. Jacob P. J Jacob P. J 49 7 7 bronze badges. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google. Sign up using Facebook. They measure the stretch or the compression of a spring. When you stand still on the bathroom scale the total force on you is zero.

Gravity acts on you in the downward direction, and the spring in the scale pushes on you in the upward direction. The two forces have the same magnitude. Since the force the spring exerts on you is equal in magnitude to your weight, you exert a force equal to your weight on the spring, compressing it.

The change in length of the spring is proportional to your weight. Spring scales use a spring of known spring constant and provide a calibrated readout of the amount of stretch or compression. Spring scales measure forces. They determine the weight of an object. On the moon, your bathroom spring scale calibrated in units of force would accurately report that your weight has decreased, but your spring scale calibrated in units of mass would inaccurately report that your mass has decreased.

Hooke's law is remarkably general. Almost any object that can be distorted pushes or pulls with a restoring force proportional to the displacement from equilibrium towards the equilibrium position, for very small displacements.

However, when the displacements become large, the elastic limit is reached. The stiffer the object, the smaller the displacement it can tolerate before the elastic limit is reached. If you distort an object beyond the elastic limit, you are likely to cause permanent distortion or to break the object. The elastic properties of linear objects, such as wires, rods, and columns which can be stretched or compressed, can be described by a parameter called the Young's modulus of the material.