Physics (AS & A Level) · May / June 2021 · Paper 13 · Question 16

A spring is initially neither compressed nor extended. A force can be applied to this spring so that it is either compressed to a shorter length or extended to a longer length. What is the change in the elastic potential energy in the spring when it is extended and when it is compressed?

1. Aspring is extended: decreases; spring is compressed: decreases
2. Bspring is extended: decreases; spring is compressed: increases
3. Cspring is extended: increases; spring is compressed: decreases
4. Dspring is extended: increases; spring is compressed: increases

As printed in the paper