Consider a spring with potential energy U=1/2 kx^2, where x is displacement from equilibrium

Rihanna Bentley

Rihanna Bentley

Answered question

2022-11-07

Consider a spring with potential energy U = 1 2 k x 2 , where x is displacement from equilibrium.
Hooke's law says the force required to move the spring is F = k x
From classical mechanics, we usually calculate force as F = U which yields F = k x here.
Why is the sign different? Does F = U denote the force on the spring instead of the force generated by the spring?

Answer & Explanation

takwerkyo0

takwerkyo0

Beginner2022-11-08Added 17 answers

Hooke's law is actually F = k x which specifies that the force that the spring produces is always pointing away (opposite) from the direction of the displacement of the spring from the equilibrium position (taken as x=0 for simplicity). There is no contradiction.
F = U is the force generated by the spring as it should be since U is the potential energy of the spring. kx being the force "required to move the spring" is talking about some external force involved separate from the spring itself.

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