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Elastic energy is the mechanical potential energy stored in the configuration of a material or physical system as it is subjected to elastic deformation by work performed upon it. Elastic energy occurs when objects are impermanently compressed, stretched or generally deformed in any manner.
The problem of two fixed centers conserves energy; in other words, the total energy is a constant of motion.The potential energy is given by =where represents the particle's position, and and are the distances between the particle and the centers of force; and are constants that measure the strength of the first and second forces, respectively.
There are various types of potential energy, each associated with a particular type of force. For example, the work of an elastic force is called elastic potential energy; work of the gravitational force is called gravitational potential energy; work of the Coulomb force is called electric potential energy; work of the strong nuclear force or weak nuclear force acting on the baryon charge is ...
The curve () describes the deflection of the beam in the direction at some position (recall that the beam is modeled as a one-dimensional object). is a distributed load, in other words a force per unit length (analogous to pressure being a force per area); it may be a function of , , or other variables.
The most prominent example of the classical two-body problem is the gravitational case (see also Kepler problem), arising in astronomy for predicting the orbits (or escapes from orbit) of objects such as satellites, planets, and stars. A two-point-particle model of such a system nearly always describes its behavior well enough to provide useful ...
In classical physics, a spring can be seen as a device that stores potential energy, specifically elastic potential energy, by straining the bonds between the atoms of an elastic material. Hooke's law of elasticity states that the extension of an elastic rod (its distended length minus its relaxed length) is linearly proportional to its tension ...
Molecules settle in the configuration which minimizes the free energy, subject to constraints derived from their structure, and, depending on whether the energy or the entropy term dominates the free energy, materials can broadly be classified as energy-elastic and entropy-elastic.
Every conservative force has a potential energy. By following two principles one can consistently assign a non-relative value to U: Wherever the force is zero, its potential energy is defined to be zero as well. Whenever the force does work, potential energy is lost.