Final answer:
Hooke's law states that the force needed to stretch or compress a spring is proportional to the displacement from its equilibrium position, symbolized as F = -kx, where F is the restoring force and k is the force constant measured in N/m.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Hooke's law, the force necessary to stretch or compress a spring is proportional to the displacement from its equilibrium position, denoted as x. In equation form, Hooke's law is represented as F = -kx, where F is the restoring force and k is the force constant. The force constant k depends on the shape and composition of the object and is measured in newtons per meter (N/m). The negative sign indicates that the restoring force acts in the opposite direction of the displacement. The concept of Hooke's law illustrates the linear relationship between force and displacement, meaning the more you stretch or compress the spring, the larger the restoring force required to bring it back to its original length.