Hooke's Law
A law of elasticity stating that restoring force exerted by a spring or elastic material is proportional to its extension or compression distance.
Governing formula
F = -k x
SI unit
N (k in N/m)
In depth
The negative sign indicates restoring force opposes displacement. Hooke's law holds within the elastic limit of the material.
Examples in the real world
A spring scale extending proportionally as weights are added.