Which form of energy is stored in a stretched elastic band?

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Multiple Choice

Which form of energy is stored in a stretched elastic band?

When an elastic band is stretched, energy is stored as strain energy in the material. The band is deformed from its resting shape, and the molecules are displaced so the band has a restoring force that wants to return it to its original length. This stored energy is called elastic potential energy. If you release the band, that energy can convert into kinetic energy (motion) of the band and may also become sound or heat due to internal friction. The other forms don’t fit: kinetic energy is energy of motion, thermal energy relates to temperature and random molecular motion, and nuclear energy comes from forces inside atomic nuclei. The stretch specifically stores energy as elastic potential energy.

When an elastic band is stretched, energy is stored as strain energy in the material. The band is deformed from its resting shape, and the molecules are displaced so the band has a restoring force that wants to return it to its original length. This stored energy is called elastic potential energy. If you release the band, that energy can convert into kinetic energy (motion) of the band and may also become sound or heat due to internal friction. The other forms don’t fit: kinetic energy is energy of motion, thermal energy relates to temperature and random molecular motion, and nuclear energy comes from forces inside atomic nuclei. The stretch specifically stores energy as elastic potential energy.

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