Final answer:
The spring constant, denoted by 'k' in Hooke's Law, represents the stiffness of the spring. Increasing the spring constant results in a stiffer spring, which will stretch less for a given force.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hooke's law can be represented by the equation F = -kx, where F is the restoring force, x is the displacement from equilibrium or deformation, and k is the force constant of the system. The spring constant, k, refers to the rigidity or stiffness of the spring; the higher the spring constant, the stiffer the spring. A spring's stiffness impacts how much it can be stretched by a given force. Increasing the spring constant means that for the same amount of force applied, the spring will stretch less, indicating that the system has become stiffer and more resistant to deformation. Thus, if you increase the spring constant, it will affect the amount that the spring can be stretched by reducing the deformation x for the same applied force F.