Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A spring has . How much work does it take to stretch it
The work of a force that changes along the path is the area under its force-position graph, . For a spring, .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. ; stretches , and .
Plan. The work is the area under .
Step 1. (a) .
Step 2. (b) .
Answer: (a) . (b) .
Check. The second step costs three times the first, as the difference of squares says: .
Watch out. The same extra costs more further out, because the spring pulls back harder there.
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