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.