Experimental Verification of

Hooke’s Law
Introduction to Physics

English Physicist Robert Hooke (1635 – 1703) in the year 1676 put forward the
relationship between the extension produced in a cable and the restoring force
developed in it. An ideal spring is remarkable in the logic that it is a method where
the generated force is linearly dependent on how far it is stretched; this activity is
described by Hooke’s law. The law formulated on the base of this study is known as
Hooke’s law.
A spring is suspended from rigid support as shown in the Figure. A weight hanger
and a light pointer are attached at its lower end such that the pointer can slide over a
scale graduated in millimeters.

The initial reading on the scale is noted. A slotted weight of m kg is added to the
weight hanger and the pointer position is noted. The same procedure is repeated
with every additional m kg weight. It will be observed that the extension of the spring
is proportional to the weight. This verifies Hooke’s law.
According to Hooke’s law, within the elastic limit, the strain produced in a body is
straight proportional to the pressure that produces it. This Law stated above that to
extend a spring by an amount dx from its previous position, one needs a force F
which is determined by F = kdx. Here k is the spring constant which is a quality of
each spring.
(i.e) pressure α strain
Stress / Strain = a constant, known as modulus of elasticity.
Hooke’s Law Formula is given by: F = -kx
Its unit is Nm-2 and its dimensional formula is ML-1T-2.
Experimental verification of Hooke’s law –
Therefore, in order to verify Hooke’s Law, you must prove that the force F and the
detachment at which the spring is stretched are comparative to each other and that
the constant of proportionality is k.

A spring is balanced from a rigid hold as shown in Fig. A weight hook and a light
cursor are attached at its inferior end such that the cursor can slide over a scale
graduated in millimeters. The primary reading on the scale is noted. A slotted weight
of ‘m’ gram/kg is further to the weight hook and the cursor place is noted. It will be
experimental that the conservatory of the spring is comparative to the weight. This
verifies Hooke’s law.
Method:
 The spring reading meter will measure in its primary face.
 Then the spring placed in the fix of the retort position and hold together
strongly adequate to grasp it in position.
Example: A spring is stretched by 5 cm and has a force constant of 2 cm /dyne.
Calculate the Force applied?
Given: Force constant k = 2 cm/dyne,
Extension x = 5 cm.
The force applied is given by F = – kx = – 2cm/dyne * 5 cm = – 10 cm/dyne.
Elastic limit

If an elastic material is stretched or compressed beyond a certain limit, it will

not regain its original state and will remain deformed. The limit beyond which
permanent deformation occurs is called the elastic limit.
According to Hooke's law, within the elastic limit, strain produced in a body is
directly proportional to the stress that produces it.
(i.e) stress α strain
Stress / Strain = a constant, known as modulus of elasticity.
Its unit is N m-2 and its dimensional formula is ML-1T-2