Practice Potential Energy in Physics
Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.
Quick Recap
Energy stored in a system due to the position or configuration of its parts, ready to be released.
Energy waiting to be released—like a stretched rubber band or a ball held high.
Example 1
easyA spring with spring constant k = 200 \text{ N/m} is compressed by 0.1 \text{ m}. What is the elastic potential energy stored?
Example 2
mediumA spring (k = 500 \text{ N/m}) is stretched 0.2 \text{ m}. How much work was done to stretch it?
Example 3
mediumA 0.3 \text{ kg} ball on a compressed spring (k = 800 \text{ N/m}, compressed 0.15 \text{ m}) is released. What speed does the ball reach?
Example 4
easyA bungee cord has an effective spring constant k = 100 \text{ N/m}. If it stretches 3 \text{ m} beyond its natural length, how much elastic potential energy is stored?