Why does an object have elastic potential energy?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Let's break down the question and each option to understand elastic potential energy.
Option a: 'Because the object is connected to a spring which is not stretched nor compressed.' If the spring is at its natural length (no stretch or compression), there is no elastic potential energy stored in it. So this statement would not explain why elastic potential energy exists.
Option b: 'Because the object has a large spring constant.' The spring constant k affects the amount of energy stored for a given displacement (the energy is proportional to kx^2/2), but simply having a large k does not by itself explain why elastic potential energy exists. It describes how much energy could be stored, not the fundamental reason energy is stored.
Option c: 'Because the object moving on a frictionless surface.' Moving on a frictionless surface has no dissipative losses, but elastic potential energy arises from deformation of a spring, not from motion on a frictionless surface. This option confuses kinetic aspects with potential energy storage.
Option d: 'Because the object stretching or compressing a spring.' This captures the core concept: when a spring is stretched or compressed from its equilibrium length, it stores elastic potential energy in the spring due to the deformation of its material, which is recoverable as force when released.
In summary, only the idea that energy is stored when a spring is deformed (stretched or compressed) correctly explains elastic potential energy, while the other options either describe conditions that don’t store energy or mix separate concepts (k value or motion) with energy storage.

UCIC 202503 PHYS101 Quiz 3

Why does an object have elastic potential energy?

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