Answer:
Scenario B)
Explanation:
The elastic potential energy stored in a spring is given by:
[tex]U=\frac{1}{2}kx^2[/tex]
where k is the spring constant and x is the compression/stretching of the spring.
Let's calculate the potential energy of each spring by using this formula:
A) [tex]U=\frac{1}{2}(3 N/m)(1.0 m)^2=1.5 J[/tex]
B) [tex]U=\frac{1}{2}(6 N/m)(0.8 m)^2=1.92 J[/tex]
C) [tex]U=\frac{1}{2}(9 N/m)(0.6 m)^2=1.62 J[/tex]
D) [tex]U=\frac{1}{2}(12 N/m)(0.4 m)^2=0.96 J[/tex]
Therefore, the scenario with most elastic potential energy is B.
