One end of a light spring of spring constant k is fixed to a wall and the other end is tied to a block placed on a smooth horizontal surface. In a displacement, the work done by the spring is $\large \frac 12kx^2$ . The possible cases are
a) the spring was initially compressed by a distance x and was finally in its natural length
b) it was initially streched by a distance x and finally was in its natural length
c) it was initially in its natural length and finally in a compressed position
d) it was initially in its natural length and finally in a stretched position.

Question

Infinity Learn · Accepted Answer

Force applied by the spring on the block and displacement of the block are parallel vectors and hence work done by the spring is positive and is equal  in magnitude to the initial  potential energy stored in the spring , as the energy required to perform work on the block is derived from the elastic potential energy stored in the spring.

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