Question: Since only changes in potential energy are important in any problem, a student decides to let the elastic potential energy of a spring be zero

Since only changes in potential energy are important in any problem, a student decides to let the elastic potential energy of a spring be zero when the spring is stretched a distance x1. The student decides, therefore, to let U = 1/2 k(x - x1)2. Is this correct? Explain.

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This is incorrect It incorrectly gives U U 2 U 1 kx 2 x 1 2 rather than the correct U kx 2 ... View full answer

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