Hooke’s law

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Know how civil and environmental engineers understand the mechanics of thin structures and how they use geometry to study the deformation process

illustration of Robert Hooke's law of elasticity of materials

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Hooke’s law: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Did You Know?

Hooke experimented with springs because he thought it must be possible to design a clock or stopwatch which used a circular spring in place of a pendulum for regular time-keeping.
Hooke's law reflects how pulling on a spring stretches the springy bonds between atoms, which can bounce back into place.

Photos and Videos

illustration of Robert Hooke's law of elasticity of materials

Know how civil and environmental engineers understand the mechanics of thin structures and how they use geometry to study the deformation process

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Topics

spring constant elastic modulus yield strength elasticity elastic limit plasticity ductility

Key People

illustration of Robert Hooke's law of elasticity of materials

Robert Hooke

British scientist

Quiz

Italian-born physicist Dr. Enrico Fermi draws a diagram at a blackboard with mathematical equations. circa 1950.

Physics and Natural Law