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Hooke's Law

Key Stage 3

Meaning

Hooke's Law states that the extension of an elastic object is proportional to the force applied to the object.

About Hooke's Law

Hooke's Law describes how elastic objects behave when a pair of opposing forces, one at each end of the object, are applied.
Hooke's Law is described by the equation: Force = (Spring Constant) x (Extension)
HookesLawSpring.png
When a weight is added the spring extends. If the weight is doubled the extension is also doubled.
Elastic objects have an Elastic Limit. This means if the force is too big they stop obeying Hooke's Law and start to deform plastically so they will not return to their original shape.

Equation

Force = (Spring Constant) x (Extension of the spring)

\( F = kx \)

\( F = k \times x \)

Where

\(F\) = Force applied

\(k\) = Spring Constant (stiffness of the elastic object)

\(x\) = Extension of the object

Example Calculations

Calculating Force
A bow with a spring constant of 400N/m is stretched 0.5m. Calculate the force applied in the bow. A bungee cord with a spring constant of 45N/m stretches by 30m. Calculate the force applied to the cord. A slinky spring of length 10cm and spring constant 0.8N/m is stretched to a length of 10.1m. Calculate the force needed to stretch the slinky.
1. State the known quantities

Extension = 0.5m

Spring Constant = 400N/m

1. State the known quantities

Extension = 30m

Spring Constant = 45N/m

1. State the known quantities

Original Length = 10cm = 0.1m

New Length = 10.1m

Extension = 10.1 - 0.1 = 10m

Spring Constant = 0.8N/m

2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.

\( F = kx \)

\( F = 400 \times 0.5 \)

\( F = 200N \)

2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.

\( F = kx \)

\( F = 45 \times 30 \)

\( F = 1350N \)

2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.

\( F = kx \)

\( F = 0.8 \times 10 \)

\( F = 8N \)

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Hooke's Law states that the extension of an elastic object is directly proportional to the force applied to the object.

About Hooke's Law

Hooke's Law describes how elastic objects behave when a pair of equilibrium forces is applied.
Hooke's Law is described by the equation: Force = (Spring Constant) x (Extension)
Hooke's Law applies to an object until it reaches its elastic limit, at which point the object begins to behave plastically.


HookesLawSpring.png
When a weight is added the spring extends. If the weight is doubled the extension is also doubled.
Elastic objects have an Elastic Limit. This means if the force is too big they stop obeying Hooke's Law and start to deform plastically so they will not return to their original shape.

Equation

Equilibrium Force = (Spring Constant) x (Extension of the Object)

\( F = kx \)

\( F = k \times x \)

Where

\(F\) = Equilibrium Force applied

\(k\) = Spring Constant (stiffness of the elastic object)

\(x\) = Extension of the object

Example Calculations

Calculating Equilibrium Force

A bow with a spring constant of 390N/m is stretched 0.52m. Calculate the force applied in the bow correct to two significant figures. A bungee cord with a spring constant of 45N/m stretches by 29m. Calculate the force applied to the cord correct to two significant figures. A slinky spring of length 15cm and spring constant 0.87N/m is stretched to a length of 10m. Calculate the force needed to stretch the slinky correct to two significant figures.
1. State the known quantities

Extension = 0.52m

Spring Constant = 390N/m

1. State the known quantities

Extension = 29m

Spring Constant = 45N/m

1. State the known quantities

Original Length = 15cm = 0.15m

New Length = 10m

Extension = 10 - 0.15 = 9.85m

Spring Constant = 0.87N/m

2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.

\( F = kx \)

\( F = 390 \times 0.52 \)

\( F = 202.8N \)

\( F \approx 200N \)

2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.

\( F = kx \)

\( F = 45 \times 29 \)

\( F = 1305N \)

\( F \approx 1300N \)

2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.

\( F = kx \)

\( F = 0.87 \times 9.85 \)

\( F = 8.5695N \)

\( F \approx 8.6N \)

Calculating Spring Constant

A car weighing 19000N rests on a single suspension spring. This causes the spring to shorten by 0.15m. Calculate the spring constant of this spring correct to two significant figures. A girl of weight 360N balances perfectly on a pogo stick. When she is on the stick it is 13cm shorter than when she steps off. Calculate the spring constant of this spring correct to two significant figures. A horse trailer of height 3.66m has 4 wheels, each with a suspension spring. When a horse which weighs 6200N gets on the trailer the height is reduced to 3.61m. Calculate the spring constant of each spring correct to two significant figures.
1. State the known quantities

Extension = 0.15m

Force = 19000

1. State the known quantities

Extension = 13cm = 0.13m

Force = 360N

1. State the known quantities

Original Length = 3.66m

Final Length = 3.61m

Extension = 0.05m

Force = 6200N

2. Substitute the numbers and evaluate.

\( F = kx \)

\( 19000 = k \times 0.15 \)

2. Substitute the numbers and evaluate.

\( F = kx \)

\( 360 = k \times 0.13 \)

2. Substitute the numbers and evaluate.

\( F = kx \)

\( 6200 = k \times 0.05 \)

3. Rearrange the equation and solve.

\( k = \frac{19000}{0.15} \)

\( k = 126666.7N/m \)

\( k \approx 130000N/m \)

3. Rearrange the equation and solve.

\( k = \frac{360}{0.13} \)

\( k = 2769.23N/m \)

\( k \approx 2800N/m \)

3. Rearrange the equation and solve.

\( k = \frac{6200}{0.05} \)

\( k = 124000N/m \)

\( k \approx 120000N/m \)

References

AQA

Hooke’s Law, pages 13, 159, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Hooke's Law, pages 178-9, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA

OCR

Hooke`s law, pages 79, 253, 289, Gateway GCSE Physics, Oxford, OCR
Hooke’s Law, pages 170-173, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
Hooke’s Law, pages 36, 37, Gateway GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR