Is it true that when a slinky is compressed its potential energy decreases and when it is stretched its potential energy increases?

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True

False

answer is B.

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Detailed Solution

The given statement is false.
Potential energy:
"Potential energy is the energy that is stored in an object due to its position or configuration."

W = mgh

Where

m

is the mass,

g

is the acceleration, and

h

is the height.
If a Slinky is stretched and let go, it will come back to its original shape, which means there's a change in the Slinky's shape, which possess potential energy. This is called elastic potential energy.
When a Slinky is compressed or stretched, the Slinky’s potential energy increases in both cases. This increase in potential energy is because we do compression and stretching work.
Therefore, the correct statement would be when a Slinky is compressed or stretched, the potential energy of the Slinky increases in both cases.

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