Hooke's Law
Classroom worksheet · Interactive simulation: https://lkforge.com/tools/physics/hookes-law/
Name: Date:
Learning objectives
- State and apply Hooke’s law.
- Determine a spring constant from force and extension.
- Relate stored elastic energy to extension.
Variables to change
- Applied force
- Extension
- Spring constant
Procedure
- Apply a known force and record the spring’s extension.
- Increase the force in steps and record the extension each time.
- Plot or tabulate force versus extension.
Observations
Record force and the resulting extension; look for a proportional relationship.
Questions
- State Hooke’s law.
- How do you find the spring constant from your data?
- What does a larger spring constant mean physically?
- Write the elastic potential energy stored in a stretched spring.
- What happens if you stretch the spring past its elastic limit?
Answer key (instructors)
- 1. The restoring force is proportional to extension: F = -kx (magnitude F = kx).
- 2. It is the slope of the force-versus-extension line, k = F/x.
- 3. A stiffer spring that needs more force for the same extension.
- 4. E = ½kx².
- 5. Hooke’s law no longer holds; the spring deforms permanently and the linear relationship breaks down.
Hooke’s law (F = kx) says spring force is proportional to extension, with k the stiffness read as the slope of force versus extension. Stored elastic energy is ½kx², valid until the spring passes its elastic limit.