Hooke's Law Virtual Laboratory

Experimental Apparatus

ELASTIC REGION

Live Measurements

Applied Force (F) 0.0 N

Spring Constant (k) 50.0 N/m

Original Length (L₀) 0.500 m

                        Extension (Δx)
                        0.000 m
                    

Final Length (L) 0.500 m

Hooke's Verification ✓ VERIFIED

Interactive Controls

Applied Force (F):

0 N 50 N 100 N

Spring Constant (k):

N/m

10 N/m (Soft) 50 N/m 100 N/m (Stiff)

Force vs Extension Graph (F = k · Δx)

Experimental Observation Table

Recorded experimental data points

Reading #	Force (N)	Spring Constant (N/m)	Extension (m)	Original Length (m)	Final Length (m)

Educational Theory & Principles

About Hooke's Law

Hooke's Law states that within the elastic limit of a material, the deformation (extension or compression) is directly proportional to the applied force causing it.

\( F = k \cdot \Delta x \)

Where F is the restoring / applied force in Newtons (N), k is the spring constant in N/m, and Δx is the displacement/extension in meters (m).

Working Principle

Spring Stiffness (k): Higher stiffness values mean a firmer spring requiring more force to stretch.
Linear Elastic Region: Straight line relationship on the Force vs Extension plot.
Elastic Limit: The maximum stress/force a material can endure without permanent plastic deformation.

Experiment Procedure

Select an initial Spring Constant \( k \) (e.g., 50 N/m).
Gradually increase the Applied Force \( F \) from 0 to 100 N.
Observe the physical stretching of the spring on the vertical scale.
Click [Add Reading] to plot points on the live graph and record in the table.
Switch to Vary Spring Constant mode to test stiffness under constant force.

Engineering Applications

Hooke's Law is foundational in mechanical engineering for designing automotive suspension springs, weighing scales, earthquake isolators, structural load bearings, and pressure gauges.