Talk:PlanetPhysics/Hooke's Law

Original TeX Content from PlanetPhysics Archive

%%% This file is part of PlanetPhysics snapshot of 2011-09-01
%%% Primary Title: Hooke's law
%%% Primary Category Code: 40.
%%% Filename: HookesLaw.tex
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%%% Owner: akrowne
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 Hooke's law describes the opposing \htmladdnormallink{force}{http://planetphysics.us/encyclopedia/Thrust.html} exerted by a spring:

$$ F = -kd $$

where $k$ is the spring constant, and $d$ is the distance the end of the spring is disturbed from its \htmladdnormallink{position}{http://planetphysics.us/encyclopedia/Position.html} at relaxation (assuming the other end is fixed).

This law is used not only for metal springs, but also in many other ``spring-like'' interactions in nature, including interactions between microscopic or \htmladdnormallink{subatomic particles}{http://planetphysics.us/encyclopedia/CosmologicalConstant2.html}. The simple linear nature of the law makes it very convenient to \htmladdnormallink{work}{http://planetphysics.us/encyclopedia/Work.html} with analytically.

However, this simple linear behavior should be a clue that in most instances the law is not precise; it is just an approximation. For metal springs, the law only holds in the region where the spring behaves elastically; outside of this region, the law breaks down.

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