Question 1: Define Hooke's Law in your own words.

Answer: Hooke's Law states that the force needed to extend or compress a spring is directly proportional to the distance it is stretched or compressed, provided the elastic limit is not exceeded.

Question 2: Explain what is meant by the 'spring constant'.

Answer: The spring constant is a measure of the stiffness of a spring, indicating the amount of force needed to extend or compress the spring by a unit length, measured in Newtons per metre (N/m).

Question 3: Identify the variables involved in Hooke's Law formula, F = kx.

Answer: F is the force applied (in Newtons), k is the spring constant (N/m), and x is the extension or compression from the equilibrium position (in metres).

Question 4: A spring has a spring constant of 200 N/m. How much force is needed to extend it by 0.05 m?

Answer: F = kx = 200 N/m × 0.05 m = 10 N

Question 5: Describe an experiment you could perform to verify Hooke's Law using a spring.

Answer: Secure a spring to a fixed support and attach various known masses to it. Measure the extension for each mass, ensuring the elastic limit is not exceeded. Plot force versus extension to verify the linear relationship predicted by Hooke's Law.

Question 6: In an experiment, if a 0.2 kg mass causes a spring to extend by 0.1 m, what is the spring constant? (Use g = 9.8 m/s²)

Answer: Force = mass × gravity = 0.2 kg × 9.8 m/s² = 1.96 N; k = F / x = 1.96 N / 0.1 m = 19.6 N/m

Question 7: Which of the following is true for a spring obeying Hooke's Law?

Answer: Force is proportional to extension

Question 8: Fill in the blank: When a spring obeys Hooke's Law, the graph of force versus extension is a straight ______.

Answer: line

Question 9: What safety precautions should be taken when performing experiments involving stretched springs?

Answer: Ensure the spring is securely fastened, do not overstretch the spring beyond its elastic limit, and wear safety glasses to protect against possible sudden releases of energy.

Question 10: A car's suspension system uses springs that follow Hooke's Law. Explain how understanding this law helps engineers design safer vehicles.

Answer: Engineers use Hooke's Law to predict how springs will respond under different loads, ensuring the suspension absorbs shocks effectively, maintains stability, and provides comfort and safety for passengers.