What does the x represent in potential energy?, Physics

Assignment Help:

In an expression ½kx2 for the potential energy accumulates in the spring what does the x represent?        

Answer:

Quite frequently we consider there to be an object at one end of the spring while the other end of the spring is fixed in position example by being attached to a wall. x is the position of the thing measured with respect to its equilibrium position. The value of x symbolizes a position on an x-axis which is collinear with the spring and whose origin is at the equilibrium position. The symmetry position is the position of the entity for which the spring is neither stretched nor compressed.

The positive direction for the x-axis is classically chosen to be the direction in which one has to move the object from its equilibrium position in order to stretch the spring. In which case x is the amount by which the spring is stretched where a negative amount of stretch means the spring is actually compressed.

It is satisfactory to define the x-axis such that the positive direction is the direction in which one has to move the object from its equilibrium position in order to compress the spring. In which case x is the amount by which the spring is compressed where a negative amount of compression means the spring is actually stretched.


Related Discussions:- What does the x represent in potential energy?

Michelson''s interferometer construction and working in detai, Construction...

Construction and working of michelson''s interferometer in detail

What is the kinemmetic chain and kinematic pair, KINEMATIC CHAIN : Refers t...

KINEMATIC CHAIN : Refers to an assembly of rigid bodies connected by joints that is the mathematical model for a mechanical system. As in the familiar use of the word chain, the ri

Bulbs can fail without blowing the fuse - electricity, A holiday light stri...

A holiday light string of ten bulbs is equipped with shunts that short out the bulbs when the voltage drop increases to line voltage, which happens when a bulb burns out. Every bul

Describe how the law of conservation of energy, Describe how the law of con...

Describe how the law of conservation of energy holds good in light interference pattern

Nuclear physics, why electrons do not exist in nucleus

why electrons do not exist in nucleus

Magnetism and electromagnetism, working principle of vibration and deflecti...

working principle of vibration and deflection magnetometer?

Define perfectly plastic body , An object which does not get its actual con...

An object which does not get its actual configuration at all on the removal of deforming force, though short the deforming force can be is a perfectly plastic body.

Electromagnetic radiation , a)      You are travelling in a rocket in a tot...

a)      You are travelling in a rocket in a totally vacant universe. The rocket is travelling at 100 m.s -1 and accelerates at 10g for 3 minutes. How fast are you travelling at th

What is the velocity, An ice-skater with a mass of 75.0 kg pushes off again...

An ice-skater with a mass of 75.0 kg pushes off against a second skater with a mass of 42.0 kg. Both skaters are initially at rest. After the push, the larger skater moves

Determine the view factor, Consider a horizontal cylinder with diameter D a...

Consider a horizontal cylinder with diameter D and length L. The center of the cylinder is a distance a above the ground. A wall with length W and height H is located to the side o

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd