A rubber cord is suspended from a rigid support. A load fixed to its lower end is increased gradually from zero, then decreased gradually back to zero. The force-extension curve for contraction lies below the force-extension curve for stretching. What is represented by the shaded region between the curves?
- Athe elastic potential energy stored in the rubber cord
- Bthe thermal energy dissipated in the rubber cord
- Cthe work done on the rubber cord during stretching
- Dthe work done by the rubber cord during contraction