Learning objective

Explain why doubling extension more than doubles elastic potential energy.

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At a glance

5

Flashcards

7

Questions

Topic

Forces and elasticity

Subtopic

Elastic potential energy

AQA GCSE PhysicsForces

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Short explanation

Doubling the extension of a spring results in more than double the elastic potential energy stored due to the quadratic relationship in the elastic potential energy equation, Ee = 0.5 x k x e². Here, 'k' is the spring constant and 'e' is the extension. When the extension is doubled, the new energy becomes Ee = 0.5 x k x (2e)² = 0.5 x k x 4e², which is four times the original energy. This demonstrates that energy stored in a spring increases with the square of the extension, highlighting the non-linear nature of elastic potential energy in elastic materials.

Key concepts

elastic potential energyextension

Why it matters

This objective helps connect Elastic potential energy to exam-style questions, flashcards, and revision notes for Forces and elasticity.

Common mistakes

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  • Misunderstanding Elastic Potential Energy: Students should understand that elastic potential energy is proportional to the square of the extension, so doubling the extension actually increases the energy by a factor of four.

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