o The spring is said to be stiff if k is large and soft if k is small .
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Spring force is position dependent as first stated by Hooke , ( Fs = − kx )
Work done by spring force only depends on the initial and final positions . Thus , the spring force is a conservative force .
We define the potential energy V ( x ) of the spring to be zero when block and spring system is in the equilibrium position .
o For an extension ( or compression ) x , V ( x ) = kx 2 / 2
If the block of mass m is extended to xm and released from rest , then its total mechanical energy at any arbitrary point x ( where x lies between –
xm and + xm ) will be given by :