Hooke's Law

Discover the relationship between spring force and extension

Hooke's Law states that the restoring force of a spring is proportional to its extension (F = kx), where k is the spring constant in N/m. This applies only within the elastic limit — beyond it the spring deforms permanently. Elastic potential energy stored is ½kx². Springs in series have lower effective k (more stretchy); springs in parallel have higher effective k (stiffer).