➰ Hooke's Law — Springs

Hooke's Law Simulator: Springs, F = kx & Series vs Parallel

This Hooke's law simulator shows why a spring's stretch is proportional to the force on it: F = k·x. Hang a mass and the spring settles at x = mg/k; double the mass and the extension doubles, tracing a straight force–extension line whose slope is the spring constant k. The shaded triangle under that line is the stored elastic energy ½kx² — the energy that launches an arrow or a pinball. The lab's twist is spring combinations: put two identical springs in series and the system is softer (k_eff = k/2, so it stretches twice as far), or in parallel and it's stiffer (k_eff = 2k), a genuinely surprising result that adding a spring can increase the stretch. Drag the mass and k, watch the coil stretch and the F–x point move live, and predict which arrangement stretches more.

What you can do in this simulation

• Hang a mass and watch the coil stretch to x = mg/k, with a live extension ruler in centimetres
• A force–extension graph draws the F = kx line (slope = k) with the current point and the ½kx² energy area shaded
• Switch between a single spring, two in series (softer, k/2), and two in parallel (stiffer, 2k)
• Adjust mass and spring constant with sliders and see extension and stored energy update instantly
• Predict mode: call whether series or parallel stretches more for the same load

Concepts covered

hooke's law · spring constant · elastic potential energy · force extension graph · springs in series and parallel · restoring force · elasticity

Related simulations

• Cloud Computing Explorer – Virtual Infrastructure
• Materials Science — Stress-Strain Explorer
• Acoustics & Sound Waves — Interactive Simulator
• Angular Momentum Simulator: The Spinning Skater Effect
• Black Hole Simulator — Gravity & Spacetime
• Brachistochrone Curve Simulator - Fastest Ramp

Browse all Physics simulations →

Free to use in your browser — no signup required. Found a bug or have an idea to make it better? Tell us.