Final answer:
The equation for the force of a spring is F = -kx, where F is the force, k is the force constant, and x is the displacement. Hooke's law states that the restoring force of a spring is directly proportional to the displacement. The force constant, k, is a measure of the spring's stiffness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation for the force of a spring is given by F = -kx, where F is the force exerted by the spring, k is the force constant, and x is the displacement of the spring from its equilibrium position.
Hooke's law states that the restoring force of a spring is directly proportional to the deformation or displacement produced by the force, with the minus sign indicating that the restoring force acts in the opposite direction of the displacement.
The force constant, k, is a measure of the stiffness of the spring and is determined by dividing the weight of the load acting on the spring by the displacement of the spring.