Question

What does the negative sign in F = –kx mean? A)The displacement is in the opposite direction.

B)The spring constant is small.

C)The force is opposite the displacement.

D)The velocity is slowing down.

Answer 1

A because F=ma
for F to be -ve, a must be -ve and a is rate of change of velocity and velocity is rate of change of displacement so displacement must be negative for velocity to be negative for acceleration to be negative for F to be negative

Answer 2

-ve sign shows that the displacement is in the opposite direction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Hooke's law states that the force acting on the spring is directly proportional the displacement. Mathematically, it is given by :

`F\propto -x`

or

F = -kx

Where

k = spring constant

-ve sign shows that the restoring force acts opposite to that of displacement. Hence, the correct option is (a) "The displacement is in the opposite direction".