What elastic potential energy is
Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in an elastic object, such as a spring, when it is stretched or compressed from its natural length. It is calculated as PE = ½kx², where k is the spring constant and x is the displacement from equilibrium.
How this calculator works
Enter the spring constant and the distance the spring is stretched or compressed. The calculator squares the displacement, multiplies it by the spring constant, and halves the result to give the stored energy in joules.
This formula assumes the spring behaves ideally (obeys Hooke’s Law) and has not been stretched past its elastic limit. For general educational and planning purposes.
Last reviewed August 2026