Spring Constant
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
The spring constant is a measure of the stiffness of a spring.
About the Spring Constant
- The larger the spring constant the stiffer the spring.
- The spring constant is the force required, in Newtons, to extend or compress a spring by 1 metre.
- The units of the spring constant are Newtons per metre (N/m).
- The spring constant applies to objects as they deform elastically. Once an object reaches its elastic limit it no longer follows the spring constant.
- The spring constant for an object can be found from the gradient of a graph with extension plotted on the x-axis and force plotted on the y-axis.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
The spring constant is the force required to extend a spring by 1 metre.
About the Spring Constant
- The SI units of the spring constant are Newtons per metre (N/m).
- The larger the spring constant the stiffer the spring.
- The spring constant applies to objects as they deform elastically. Once an object reaches its elastic limit it no longer follows the spring constant.
- The spring constant for an object can be found from the gradient of a graph with extension plotted on the x-axis and force plotted on the y-axis.
References
AQA
- Spring constant, page 126, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Spring constant, page 55, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Spring constant, pages 140, 141, 144, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
- Spring constant, pages 160, 161, 164, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Spring constant, pages 206, 207, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Spring constant, pages 216, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA