Hooke's Law
Hooke's Law states that if a spring is not stretched beyond its elastic limit, the force that acts on it is directly proportional to the extension of the spring.
Elastic Limit
The elastic limit of a spring is defined as the maximum force that can be applied to a spring such that the spring will be able to be restored to its original length when the force is removed.
Equation derived from Hooke's LawHooke's Law states that if a spring is not stretched beyond its elastic limit, the force that acts on it is directly proportional to the extension of the spring.
Elastic Limit
The elastic limit of a spring is defined as the maximum force that can be applied to a spring such that the spring will be able to be restored to its original length when the force is removed.
From Hook's Law, we can derived that
![](http://www.one-school.net/Malaysia/UniversityandCollege/SPM/revisioncard/physics/forceandmotion/images/hookeslawformula.png)
Spring Constant
![](http://www.one-school.net/Malaysia/UniversityandCollege/SPM/revisioncard/physics/forceandmotion/images/hookeslawformula2.png)
Spring constant is defined as the ratio of the force applied on a spring to the extension of the spring.
It is a measure of the stiffness of a spring or elastic object.
Graph of Streching Force - Extension
![](http://www.one-school.net/Malaysia/UniversityandCollege/SPM/revisioncard/physics/forceandmotion/images/elasticgraph.png)
Gradient = Spring constant
Area below the graph = Work done
F-x graph and spring constant
![](http://www.one-school.net/Malaysia/UniversityandCollege/SPM/revisioncard/physics/forceandmotion/images/elasticgraph2.png)
The higher the gradient, the greater the spring constant and the harder (stiffer) spring.
For example, the stiffness of spring A is greater than spring B.