Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A Coil Spring is a metal wire bent into a spiral shape.
About Coil Springs
- Springs are elastic objects.
- Springs obey Hooke's Law.
- Springs can be extended and compressed.
- Springs need two opposing forces to change length.
Oscillating Springs
- When a spring is oscillating up and down it has three important positions:
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- Compressed is when the spring is at its shortest.
- Equilibrium is the length that the spring rests when it is not moving.
- Extended is when the spring is stretched to its longest.
Energy Transfers
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| As the spring extends from equilibrium, energy is transferred from the kinetic energy store to the elastic potential energy store. | As the spring returns from stretched to equilibrium, energy is transferred from the elastic potential energy store to the kinetic energy store. |
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| As the spring is compressed from equilibrium, energy is transferred from the kinetic energy store to the gravitational potential energy store. | As the spring returns from compressed to equilibrium, energy is transferred from the gravitational potential energy store to the kinetic energy store. |