Hooke’s Law
Introduction
When a net force F is applied to a spring, it will stretch or compress the spring by a distance Δx.
Hooke’s Law defines this relationship as
⃗F=−k Δx ^ x=k Δx(−x^ )=k ( Displacement )
Where
...
Hooke’s Law
Introduction
When a net force F is applied to a spring, it will stretch or compress the spring by a distance Δx.
Hooke’s Law defines this relationship as
⃗F=−k Δx ^ x=k Δx(−x^ )=k ( Displacement )
Where k is called the spring constant and is a measure of the stiffness of the spring. In this
equation ( −^ x ̂) represents that force and displacement is in opposite direction to each other.
Force and the displacement display a linear relationship.
The graph of Force vs displacement is a linear graph in
the form of y= mx. Now, we have (ideally) the slope (m) =
k (spring constant).
Pre-lab and Discussion Questions
Pre-Lab Questions
This part of the lab is to be completed prior to class.
All springs have an inherent length when they are in equilibrium, and we set this as x = 0.
1. Why do you think a force is generated when a spring is stretched or compressed? [3 pts]
- when we apply a force on a spring, the spring will also apply a
force back, so to attain its original position, it will act in the
opposite direction to the applied force.
2. How does the direction of the force change when a spring is
compressed (x < 0) or stretched (x > 0). Why this force is
called a restoring force? [3 pts]
- The direction of the spring force will be in the opposite direction to the external applied force. If
the applied force is to the left side (X < 0) then the spring force direction is to the right side, or
if the applied force is to the right side (X > 0) , then the spring force direction is to the left side.
It does that in order to get back to its original position, that’s why the force is called Restoring
force.
3. A spring is characterized by a constant k that measures its stiffness. How does the restoring
force depend on k? [3 pts]
- The restoring force of a spring with constant k, for a displacement (either compression or stretch)
is given by F = -kX. The potential energy of the spring is = 0.5*k*x^2
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