Oscillations and Waves - Hooke's Law

Question 1

hooke’s law

Answer 1

• a principle of physics that states that the force F needed to extend or compress a spring by some distance X is proportional to that distance

Question 2

f_s depends on…

Answer 2

• The amount of force it takes to stretch a spring depends on two things: 1) how far you stretch it, and 2) how stiff it is. The stiffness of the spring is measured by its “spring constant” k:
• k = how many N of force it takes to stretch the spring by 1 m. Unit = N/m
• A stiff spring has a big k, while a loose spring has a small k.
• The farther you stretch the spring (or compress it), the bigger the force it makes. So, if you stretch it by a distance “x,” the force that the spring exerts is given by “Hooke’s Law”