What does Hooke's Law describe?

• A. Relationship between pressure and volume
• B. Force exerted by a spring is proportional to its displacement
• C. Energy conservation in mechanical systems
• D. Friction as a function of mass

Answer: (B)

Hooke's Law describes the behavior of springs and elastic materials, stating that the force exerted by a spring is directly proportional to its displacement from its equilibrium position. This relationship can be mathematically expressed as ( F = -kx ), where ( F ) is the force exerted by the spring, ( k ) is a constant that represents the spring's stiffness, and ( x ) is the displacement from the relaxed position.

This principle is fundamental in understanding how springs and elastic materials behave under various forces. When you stretch or compress a spring, it will exert an equal and opposite force in reaction, demonstrating elasticity. This law is crucial in many applications, such as mechanical engineering, structural analysis, and materials science, as it helps predict how materials will respond to different stresses and strains.