Spring Potential Energy Calculator
Calculate elastic potential energy stored in a spring.
Formula
Elastic potential energy U = ½kx².
What Is Spring Potential Energy?
Elastic potential energy is energy stored when an ideal spring is stretched or compressed away from equilibrium. It depends on spring stiffness and on the square of displacement.
Example Calculation
A spring with k = 200 N/m displaced by 0.10 m stores 0.5 × 200 × 0.10² = 1 J of elastic potential energy.
Factors and Interpretation
Stiffer springs store more energy for the same displacement. Because displacement is squared, doubling stretch or compression makes stored energy four times larger. The formula assumes the spring follows Hooke’s law within its elastic range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is energy different for compression and extension?
For the same displacement magnitude in an ideal spring, the stored energy is the same.
Why is displacement squared?
Spring force grows linearly with displacement, so integrating force over distance produces the x² term.
What unit is returned?
The result is in joules when k is N/m and displacement is in meters.
Related Tools
Formula and Practical Limits
Ideal spring potential energy is E = ½kx². The formula assumes a linear Hookean spring; real springs can have friction, damping, preload and non-linear behavior.