Elastic Potential Energy Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the elastic potential energy calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Formulas Used

Elastic Potential Energy

elastic_pe = 0.5 * spring_constant * pow(displacement, 2)

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
spring_constantSpring Constant (k)(N/m)200
displacementDisplacement from Equilibrium(m)0.1

How It Works

Elastic Potential Energy

Energy stored in a deformed elastic object (like a spring) follows Hooke's law.

Formula

PE = (1/2) * k * x²

where k is the spring constant and x is the displacement from the natural length.

Worked Example

A spring with k = 200 N/m is compressed 0.1 m.

spring_constant = 200displacement = 0.1
  1. 01PE = 0.5 * k * x²
  2. 02PE = 0.5 * 200 * 0.01
  3. 03PE = 1 J