Elasticity Boardworks

Elasticity
1 of 27 © Boardworks Ltd 2016

Elasticity

Deforming objects
Forces can make objects change their speed or their
direction when they are in motion. They can also make
objects change shape, or deform.
compression
tension
Objects in compression are being squashed. Objects in

tension are being stretched.
This block is bending
under a weight. The top
edge is being compressed,
whilst the bottom edge is
being stretched.

Stretching an elastic band
Imagine holding an elastic
band between your hands
and slowly moving your
hands apart.
The elastic band stretches.

Now imagine holding the elastic band in
just one place and trying to stretch it.
It does not work. Why is this?

Changing the shape of an object
If just one force is applied to a stationary object, the object
will move in the direction of the force.
The shape of the object will not change.
To change the shape of
an object, applying one
force alone is not enough.
At least two forces acting
in different directions
are needed.
Whether the object is
stretched, compressed
or bent depends on the
direction of the forces.

Elastic or plastic?
Materials can undergo elastic or inelastic deformation.
Most materials do both, depending on how much force is
applied and how they are deformed.
Materials that have been deformed

elastically return to their original
shape once the external force is
removed.
Materials that have been deformed

inelastically do not return to their
original shape once the external
force is removed; the change in
shape is permanent. This is also
called plastic deformation.

Stretching forces and the particle model
The deformation of materials can be explained using
the particle model.
When a force changes the
shape of a material, it changes
the forces between particles,
stretching or compressing the
bonds between the particles.
This changes the separation
between particles.
When a material is elastically deformed, the bonds return
to their original shape once the force is removed.
When a material is plastically deformed, the structure of
the particles is permanently changed.

Elasticity

Hooke’s law
Hooke’s law states that;
The extension of an elastic object is directly

proportional to the force applied, provided
its limit of proportionality is not exceeded.
Mathematically, this can be written as;
F e or F = ke
original F is the force, measured in newtons (N).

e
length e is the extension, measured
in metres (m).
F
k is the spring constant,
measured in newtons per
metre (N/m).
Investigating springs

Results
If the spring is stretched far enough, it reaches the limit
of proportionality and then the elastic limit before
finally breaking. break point
limit of
proportionality
Up until this point, elastic limit
the spring is Separates the
obeying Hooke’s elastic region
law, and the graph and the
is a straight line plastic region.
with gradient k.
The elastic limit is the point beyond which the spring will no
longer return to its original shape when the force is removed.

Hooke’s law and compression
Hooke’s law also applies to the elastic compression
of objects.
The compression of an elastic object is directly

proportional to the force applied, provided
its limit of proportionality is not exceeded.
F e or F = ke
original length F is the force, measured in newtons (N).
e e is the compression, measured in

metres (m).
k is the spring constant, measured in
newtons per metre (N/m).
F
Calculating a spring constant
A force-extension graph is plotted for two different springs.
Calculate the spring constant

of the spring represented by
the red line.
force = k × extension
F
k=
e
8
k=
0.08
k = 100 N/m
Which spring has the bigger spring constant?

Elasticity calculations

Elasticity

Jack-in-a-box example
When a force acts to compress or
stretch an object, that force does work.
For example, when the lid is closed

on a jack-in-the-box, the spring inside
is compressed. Energy is stored in
the spring in the form of elastic
potential energy.
When the lid is lifted, removing

the compressive force, the elastic
potential energy stored in the
spring is changed into kinetic
energy and the jack jumps out.

Work done by forces
The work done by a force is equivalent to:
work done = force × distance
According to the law of conservation of energy, energy is

never created or destroyed. Instead, energy is transferred
from one form to another.
work done = amount of energy transferred
However, most energy transfers aren’t as simple as one form

of energy changing into another form of energy. For example,
the resistive force in a light bulb changes electrical energy
into both heat energy and light energy.

Work done and energy stored
When a spring is squashed or stretched, work is done by
forces of compression or tension.
work done = energy transferred
Assuming that the spring is not extended or compressed past

the limit of proportionality, this means that:
work done = elastic potential energy stored

Elastic potential energy
The formula for elastic potential energy is:
elastic potential energy = ½ × spring constant × (extension)2
or
Ee = ½ k e2
 Like other forms of energy, elastic potential energy, Ee, is

measured in joules (J).
 Extension or compression, e, is measured in metres (m).
 The spring constant, k, is measured in newtons per

metre (N/m).

Calculating elastic potential energy
A spring with a spring constant of 25 N/m is originally
50 cm in length.
After a force is applied, it is compressed
to 30 cm in length. Calculate the elastic
potential energy stored.
Choose the right formula:

step 1
Ee = ½ k e2
Work out the compression:
step 2
e = 0.5 – 0.3 = 0.2 m
Input the values:
step 3 Ee = ½ × 25 × 0.22
Ee = 0.5 J
Extended calculation question part 1
A force does 1 J of work extending a spring with a spring
constant of 50 N/m.
If the original length of the spring

was 20 cm, how long is it now?
Choose the right formula:

step 1
W = Ee = ½ k e2
Rearrange the formula to find e:

2W
step 2 e2 =
k
√
2W
e2=
k
Extended calculation question part 2
A force does 1 J of work extending a spring with a spring
constant of 50 N/m.
If the original length of the spring

was 20 cm, how long is it now?
Input the values:
√ √
2×1 1
e2= =
step 3 50 25
1
= = 0.2 m
5
Add the extension to the original
step 4 length to find the new length:
length = 0.2 + 0.2 = 0.4 m
Slingshot science

Elasticity

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Elasticity

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Objects in compression are being squashed. Objects in

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The elastic band stretches.

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Materials that have been deformed

Materials that have been deformed

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The extension of an elastic object is directly

original F is the force, measured in newtons (N).

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The compression of an elastic object is directly

e e is the compression, measured in

Calculate the spring constant

Which spring has the bigger spring constant?

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For example, when the lid is closed

When the lid is lifted, removing

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work done = force × distance

According to the law of conservation of energy, energy is

work done = amount of energy transferred

However, most energy transfers aren’t as simple as one form

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work done = energy transferred

Assuming that the spring is not extended or compressed past

work done = elastic potential energy stored

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elastic potential energy = ½ × spring constant × (extension)2

 Like other forms of energy, elastic potential energy, Ee, is

 The spring constant, k, is measured in newtons per

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Choose the right formula:

If the original length of the spring

Choose the right formula:

Rearrange the formula to find e:

If the original length of the spring

Input the values:

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