AFOQT Practice Test

What do you call the potential energy that is stored in a compressed or stretched object?

1. Elastic potential energy

2. Mechanical energy

3. Kinetic energy

4. Thermal energy

The correct answer is: Elastic potential energy

The term for the potential energy that is stored in a compressed or stretched object is elastic potential energy. This type of energy is specifically associated with objects that can return to their original shape after being deformed, such as springs or rubber bands. When these objects are either compressed or stretched, they store energy due to the deformation, which can be released when the object returns to its normal configuration. In contrast, mechanical energy refers to the total energy of motion and position, encompassing both kinetic and potential energy. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, which depends on the mass and velocity of an object, and thermal energy relates to the energy associated with the temperature of an object due to the kinetic energy of its particles. These other forms of energy do not specifically describe the energy stored in deformed objects, making elastic potential energy the accurate choice in this context.