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In physics, Hooke's law is an empirical law which states that the force (F) needed to extend or compress a spring by some distance (x) scales linearly with respect to that distance—that is, F s = kx, where k is a constant factor characteristic of the spring (i.e., its stiffness), and x is small compared to the total possible deformation of the spring.
The following table gives formula for the spring that is equivalent to a system of two springs, in series or in parallel, whose spring constants are and . [1] The compliance c {\displaystyle c} of a spring is the reciprocal 1 / k {\displaystyle 1/k} of its spring constant.)
The rate or spring constant of a spring is the change in the force it exerts, divided by the change in deflection of the spring. That is, it is the gradient of the force versus deflection curve. An extension or compression spring's rate is expressed in units of force divided by distance, for example or N/m or lbf/in.
For a stretched spring fixed at one end obeying Hooke's law, the elastic potential energy is = where r 2 and r 1 are collinear coordinates of the free end of the spring, in the direction of the extension/compression, and k is the spring constant.
Some familiar examples of uses are the strong, helical torsion springs that operate clothespins and traditional spring-loaded-bar type mousetraps. Other uses are in the large, coiled torsion springs used to counterbalance the weight of garage doors , and a similar system is used to assist in opening the trunk (boot) cover on some sedans .
A mass m attached to a spring of spring constant k exhibits simple harmonic motion in closed space. The equation for describing the period: T = 2 π m k {\displaystyle T=2\pi {\sqrt {\frac {m}{k}}}} shows the period of oscillation is independent of the amplitude, though in practice the amplitude should be small.
A prototypical elastic component is a coiled spring. The linear elastic performance of a spring is parametrized by a constant of proportionality, called the spring constant. This constant is usually denoted as k (see also Hooke's Law ) and depends on the geometry, cross-sectional area, undeformed length and nature of the material from which the ...
When a spring is stretched or compressed by a mass, the spring develops a restoring force. Hooke's law gives the relationship of the force exerted by the spring when the spring is compressed or stretched a certain length: F ( t ) = − k x ( t ) , {\displaystyle F(t)=-kx(t),} where F is the force, k is the spring constant, and x is the ...