Definition:Spring

Definition

A spring is a mechanical device for storing elastic potential energy.

It works by resisting a force which acts so as to deform it.

The greater the deformation, the greater the force.

Ideal Spring

An ideal spring obeys Hooke's Law:

$\mathbf F = -k \mathbf x$

where:

$\mathbf F$ is the force caused by a displacement $\mathbf x$

$k$ is the constant of proportion.

The negative sign indicates that the force pulls in the opposite direction to that of the displacement imposed.

Equilibrium Position

The equilibrium position of a body $B$ attached to a spring $S$ is the position it occupies when $S$ is exerting no force upon $B$.

For an ideal spring obeying Hooke's Law $\mathbf F = -k \mathbf x$, the equilibrium position is set to be the point $\mathbf x = \bszero$.

Sources

• 1972: George F. Simmons: Differential Equations ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 3.20$: Vibrations in Mechanical Systems
• 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): spring