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NEET Physics: potential energy of spring Practice Questions

11 free multiple-choice questions on potential energy of spring (Work, Energy, and Power) for NEET Physics, each with the correct answer and a step-by-step explanation. Attempt a question, then reveal the solution to check your reasoning.

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  1. Q1. A spring has a specific stiffness. If the force applied to stretch it is doubled, and the extension is halved, what happens to the potential energy stored in the spring?

    • AIt remains unchanged
    • BIt is quadrupled
    • CIt is halved
    • DIt is doubled
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — It is halved

    Let F = kx. Initial energy PE₁ = 1/2 k x². New state: F' = 2F and x' = x/2. Since k = F/x, k remains the same. New energy PE₂ = 1/2 k (x/2)² = 1/2 k x²/4 = 1/4 (1/2 k x²). The potential energy is halved.

  2. Q2. When a spring is in its natural (unstretched) position, what is the potential energy stored in it?

    • AHalf the potential energy
    • BMaximum potential energy
    • CAn infinite amount
    • DZero potential energy
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: D — Zero potential energy

    Potential energy stored in an elastic object is zero when the object is in its relaxed or natural equilibrium position (x=0).

  3. Q3. A spring obeys Hooke's Law. Hooke's Law describes the relationship between which two quantities?

    • AForce and displacement
    • BForce and distance
    • CPotential energy and mass
    • DWork and energy
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: B — Force and distance

    Hooke's Law states that the force (F) required to extend or compress a spring is directly proportional to the distance (x) it is stretched or compressed (F = kx).

  4. Q4. When a spring is in its relaxed (unstretched) position, what is the potential energy stored in it?

    • AHalf the total energy
    • BMaximum potential energy
    • CEnergy is defined only when stretched
    • DZero potential energy
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: D — Zero potential energy

    Potential energy is defined relative to a reference point. When a spring is in its natural or relaxed state (zero extension), the displacement (x) is zero, and therefore the stored potential energy is zero.

  5. Q5. Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between the force exerted by a spring and its extension, according to Hooke's Law?

    • AForce is independent of the extension
    • BForce is directly proportional to the square of the extension
    • CForce is inversely proportional to extension
    • DForce is directly proportional to the extension
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: D — Force is directly proportional to the extension

    Hooke's Law states that the restorative force exerted by a spring is directly proportional to the distance it is stretched or compressed (F = kx).

  6. Q6. If the extension of a spring is doubled while keeping the spring constant constant, how does the potential energy stored in it change?

    • AIt is halved
    • BIt is quadrupled
    • CIt remains the same
    • DIt is doubled
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: B — It is quadrupled

    The potential energy stored in a spring is given by PE = 1/2 k x². If x is doubled (2x), the new potential energy is 1/2 k (2x)² = 4 (1/2 k x²). Thus, the potential energy is quadrupled.

  7. Q7. The potential energy stored in a spring is directly proportional to the square of the displacement. This relationship is described by which physical quantity?

    • AWork
    • BKinetic Energy
    • CSpring Constant
    • DForce
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — Spring Constant

    The potential energy formula is PE = 1/2kx². Since k is constant, the potential energy is directly proportional to the square of the displacement (x²).

  8. Q8. If the spring constant (k) is doubled while the displacement (x) remains the same, what happens to the elastic potential energy stored in the spring?

    • AIt is doubled
    • BIt is quadrupled
    • CIt remains the same
    • DIt is halved
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: A — It is doubled

    Since PE = 1/2kx, if k is doubled, the potential energy stored is also doubled (assuming x is constant).

  9. Q9. If the force required to stretch a spring is doubled while keeping the extension constant, the potential energy stored in the spring will be:

    • AHalved
    • BRemain the same
    • CDoubled
    • DQuadrupled
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — Doubled

    Since PE = 1/2kx², if the force F=kx is doubled, the spring constant k must be doubled. Therefore, the potential energy will be doubled.

  10. Q10. Which quantity determines the amount of potential energy stored in an ideal spring?

    • AThe amplitude of oscillation
    • BThe spring constant and the extension
    • CThe maximum force exerted
    • DThe velocity of the end point
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: B — The spring constant and the extension

    The potential energy stored in a spring is fundamentally determined by the spring constant (k) and the displacement or extension (x), following the formula PE = 1/2 k x².

  11. Q11. Which of the following statements is true regarding the potential energy of a spring?

    • AIt depends on the displacement from equilibrium
    • BIt depends on the direction of motion only
    • CIt depends only on the velocity of the object
    • DIt depends only on the mass of the object
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: A — It depends on the displacement from equilibrium

    The elastic potential energy stored in a spring depends entirely on how much it is stretched or compressed (x) from its natural (equilibrium) length.

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