Understanding Elastic Potential Energy
When you pull back a catapult or bounce on a trampoline, you're storing elastic potential energy. This happens whenever you stretch or compress something springy like a spring, rubber band, or bungee cord.
The amount of energy stored depends on two key factors: how much you extend the material (the change in length, not the total length) and the spring constant (how stiff the material is). A stiffer spring needs more force to stretch the same distance, so it stores more energy.
Think of it like this: stretching a thick rubber band 5cm takes way more effort than stretching a thin one the same distance. The thick band has a higher spring constant and will store more energy.
Quick Tip: Extension is just the change in length - whether something gets longer or shorter and by how much!
