How to calculate spring constant in Hooke's Law?

The spring constant in Hooke's Law can be calculated by dividing the force applied by the displacement of the spring.

Hooke's Law, named after the 17th-century British physicist Robert Hooke, is a principle of physics that states that the force (F) needed to extend or compress a spring by some distance (x) is proportional to that distance. This is represented by the equation F = kx, where k is the spring constant. The spring constant is a measure of the stiffness of the spring.

To calculate the spring constant, you need to rearrange the equation to k = F/x. This means that the spring constant is calculated by dividing the force applied to the spring by the displacement of the spring from its equilibrium position. The force is measured in newtons (N) and the displacement in metres (m), so the spring constant is measured in newtons per metre (N/m).

For example, if a force of 10 newtons causes a spring to extend by 0.5 metres, the spring constant would be calculated as k = 10 N / 0.5 m = 20 N/m. This means that for every metre the spring is extended or compressed, a force of 20 newtons is needed.

It's important to note that Hooke's Law only applies within the elastic limit of the spring. If the spring is stretched or compressed beyond this limit, it will not return to its original shape and size when the force is removed, and the law no longer applies. The elastic limit varies from spring to spring, depending on factors such as the material it's made from and its thickness and length.

In summary, the spring constant in Hooke's Law is a measure of the stiffness of a spring and can be calculated by dividing the force applied by the displacement of the spring.