Hooke's Law and Springs
Hooke's law states that the extension of a spring is proportional to the force applied, up to its limit of proportionality.
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Hooke's law states that the extension of a spring is proportional to the force applied, up to its limit of proportionality.
- F equals k times extension
- The graph is a straight line initially
- Beyond the elastic limit the spring is permanently stretched
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Hooke's Law and Springs?
Within Physics, which covers forces, energy, waves, electricity, magnetism, light and space explained through motion and experiments, this topic explains Hooke's Law and Springs. Physics topics explain how things move, push, heat up and carry energy, so each one here pairs a definition with a live model you can change.
Check that you can explain Hooke's Law and Springs in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Hooke's Law and Springs explains how the physical world behaves, from sport and transport to electricity and medicine.
Hooke's Law and Springs in detail
Hooke's law states that the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied, as long as the elastic limit is not exceeded: F = kx, where k is the spring constant in N/m. A stiffer spring has a larger k.
A force-extension graph is a straight line through the origin in the elastic region, and its gradient is k. The area under it gives the elastic energy stored, ½kx². Past the limit of proportionality the spring stretches more for each extra newton and may deform permanently. Springs are used in scales, suspensions and pens.
How the interactive helps you understand Hooke's Law and Springs
Watch the force arrows in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the force arrows responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Hooke's Law and Springs.
Real-life uses and examples
- Predict what a ball, car or circuit will do with Hooke's Law and Springs before you do the calculation.
- Explain everyday devices, such as brakes, lifts or chargers, using Hooke's Law and Springs.
- Use Hooke's Law and Springs to make sense of a practical and its results.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up Hooke's Law and Springs with a related quantity that has different units.
- Forgetting that some quantities, such as force or velocity, also have a direction.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Hooke's Law and Springs
What is Hooke's Law and Springs?
Hooke's law states that the extension of a spring is proportional to the force applied, up to its limit of proportionality.
What are the most important points about Hooke's Law and Springs?
The main points are: F equals k times extension; The graph is a straight line initially; Beyond the elastic limit the spring is permanently stretched.
Why is Hooke's Law and Springs useful?
Understanding Hooke's Law and Springs explains how the physical world behaves, from sport and transport to electricity and medicine.
How can I practise Hooke's Law and Springs?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Hooke's Law and Springs?
Related topics in Physics include Atmospheric Pressure, Kinetic Energy, Energy Efficiency.