NCEA Level 2 Mechanics Practice Test

Hooke's Law accurately describes the relationship between the force exerted by a spring and its displacement from the equilibrium position. According to this law, the force exerted by a spring is directly proportional to the distance it is stretched or compressed from its natural length, which is defined as the equilibrium position. This means that as you pull or push the spring further away from this position, the force exerted by the spring increases linearly.

Mathematically, Hooke's Law can be expressed as F = kx, where F is the force applied, k is the spring constant (a measure of the spring's stiffness), and x is the displacement from the equilibrium position. This principle underlies many applications in physics and engineering, such as in the design of suspension systems, measuring scales, and various mechanical systems that rely on springs.

In contrast to the other choices, the law does not relate the force to the length of the spring itself, nor does it state that the force is constant or decreases with increased displacement. These misconceptions would lead to incorrect understanding of how springs function under stress. Thus, focusing on the proportionality to displacement provides the most accurate and applicable description of Hooke's Law.