Elastic Potential Energy
We next consider the block-spring system shown with the block moving on the end of a spring of spring constant k, As the block moves from point Xi to point xf’ the spring force does work on the block.
To associate a potential energy value U with the block at position x. we choose the reference configuration to be when the spring is at its relaxed.
CHECKPOINT 2: A particle is to move along the x axis from a conservative force, directed along the x axis, acts on the particle.