How to Calculate Spring Force Using Hooke's Law
Learn to calculate spring force with Hooke's Law formula and examples.
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To calculate spring force, use Hooke's Law: F = -kx. Here, F is the spring force, k is the spring constant (a measure of the spring's stiffness), and x is the displacement from the equilibrium position. For example, if a spring has a constant of 200 N/m and is compressed by 0.1 meters, the force exerted by the spring would be F = -200 * 0.1 = -20 N. The negative sign indicates the force is in the opposite direction of the displacement.
FAQs & Answers
- What is Hooke's Law and how is it used? Hooke's Law states that the force exerted by a spring is proportional to the displacement of the spring from its equilibrium position. It is expressed as F = -kx, where F is the spring force, k is the spring constant, and x is the displacement.
- How do you determine the spring constant (k)? The spring constant (k) can be determined experimentally by applying a known force to a spring and measuring the resulting displacement. It is calculated as k = F/x, where F is the applied force and x is the displacement caused by the force.
- What does the negative sign in Hooke's Law represent? The negative sign in Hooke's Law indicates that the spring force acts in the opposite direction to the displacement. This means that if the spring is compressed or stretched, it will exert a force that tries to return it to its equilibrium position.
- Can Hooke's Law be applied to all springs? Hooke's Law is applicable to elastic springs that operate within their elastic limit. For very large displacements, or for materials that do not return to their original shape, Hooke's Law may not hold true.