I stretch a rubber-band and fling it at across the room. When does the rubber band have energy?

Question

Question 3 options:

Only when it was stretched tight.

There is no energy used.

Only when its flying across the room.

Both when its stretched tight and when its flying across the room.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

Both when it's stretched tight and when it's flying across the room.

When you stretch the rubber band, you are storing potential energy in it. Once you release it and it flies across the room, that potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as it moves. So, energy exists in both states: when it's stretched tight and when it's in motion.