Hooke’s Law

Front

Natural Length Noun

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[nach-er-uhl length]

Back

Natural Length

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The original length of a spring before any external force or load is applied to stretch or compress it.

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Example: The image shows a spring with no weight attached, representing its natural length, which is the starting point before a force causes it to stretch.

Front

Extension Noun

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[ik-sten-shun]

Back

Extension

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The increase in length of a spring from its natural length when it is stretched by an applied force.

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Example: This diagram shows a weight pulling on a spring, causing it to stretch. The amount it stretches from its original length is called the extension.

Front

Hooke's Law Noun

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[hooks law]

Back

Hooke's Law

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The principle stating that the force needed to stretch or compress a spring is directly proportional to its extension.

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Example: This diagram shows that the distance a spring stretches (x) is directly proportional to the force (F) applied, demonstrating Hooke's Law.

Front

Spring Constant Noun

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[spring kon-stuhnt]

Back

Spring Constant

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A measure of a spring's stiffness, calculated as the ratio of the force applied to the resulting extension.

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Example: This diagram shows Hooke's Law, where the spring constant 'k' represents the stiffness of the spring being stretched by weights.

Front

Stiffness Noun

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[stif-nis]

Back

Stiffness

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A property describing a material's resistance to being deformed elastically when a force is applied to it.

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Example: Applying a force (F) to a spring causes it to stretch by a certain amount (δ); stiffness is the property that resists this stretching.

Front

Limit of Proportionality Noun

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[lim-it uv pro-por-shun-al-i-tee]

Back

Limit of Proportionality

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The point beyond which the force applied to a material is no longer directly proportional to its extension.

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Example: This graph shows how a material stretches (strain) when a force is applied (stress). The 'Proportional limit' (Point A) is where the material stops stretching proportionally.

Front

Elastic Limit Noun

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[i-las-tik lim-it]

Back

Elastic Limit

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The maximum stress a material can withstand before it undergoes permanent deformation and fails to return to its original shape.

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Example: Stretching a spring beyond its elastic limit causes permanent deformation, so it does not return to its original length after the force is removed.

Front

Elastic Deformation Noun

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[i-las-tik dee-for-mey-shun]

Back

Elastic Deformation

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A temporary change in an object's shape that is reversed when the deforming force is removed, allowing it to recover.

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Example: This diagram shows that when a force is applied to an object, its molecular structure can bend or stretch (deform), but it returns to its original shape after the force is removed.

Front

Plastic Deformation Noun

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[plas-tik dee-for-mey-shun]

Back

Plastic Deformation

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A permanent change in an object's shape that remains even after the deforming force has been completely removed.

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Example: This graph shows that when a material is stretched past its elastic limit, it becomes permanently deformed and does not return to its original shape.

Front

Restoring Force Noun

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[ri-stor-ing fors]

Back

Restoring Force

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The force exerted by a spring that acts opposite to the displacement, attempting to return it to its equilibrium position.

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Example: This diagram shows Hooke's Law, where the restoring force (F) of a spring is proportional to how much it is stretched (x).