How Do You Calculate the Potential Energy of a Spring?

[dulaville]

~~potential energy of a spring!

Homework Statement

A spring with a 0.500kg mass is pulled 0.25m from the equilibrium position. Calculate the potential energy of the spring at 0.25m, if the spring constant is 6.8N/m.

Homework Equations

Ep=mgh
Ep=kx^2/2

The Attempt at a Solution

Don't know where to start, sorry!

 

[thecapo]

<Solution deleted by mods>[/color]

 

[Redbelly98]

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[jeppetrost]

You've got both equations right, now you just need to figure a couple o' things out:
How much gravitational energy did it gain from being streched? (Because streching it could mean the center of mass is closer to or further from the Earth's center)
How much "spring"-energy did it gain?

It also depends on wether the spring lies on the floor, flat, or hangs from the cieling, eg.