Which formula represents Hooke's law?

Hooke's law states that the force exerted by a spring is directly proportional to the amount it is stretched or compressed, as long as the limit of proportionality is not exceeded. The formula representing this relationship is ( F = kx ), where ( F ) is the force applied to the spring, ( k ) is the spring constant (a measure of the spring's stiffness), and ( x ) is the displacement from its equilibrium position. This fundamental principle is crucial in mechanics and helps explain the behavior of elastic materials under load.

The other formulas do not relate to Hooke's law. The equation ( F = ma ) describes Newton's second law of motion, relating force to mass and acceleration. The formula ( P = W/t ) represents power as the rate of doing work over time. Finally, ( Ep = mgh ) calculates gravitational potential energy, dependent on mass, gravitational acceleration, and height. Each of these has its own specific application in mechanics, separate from the concepts outlined by Hooke's law.