What does Hooke's Law state?

Hooke’s Law states that within the elastic limit of a material, the amount of deformation (strain) it experiences is directly proportional to the applied stress. This principle forms the foundation of linear elasticity, which is essential for understanding how materials behave under load.

When a material is stretched or compressed, it deforms according to the applied stress up to a certain limit known as the elastic limit. Beyond this point, the material may not return to its original shape, and permanent deformation can occur. This proportional relationship means that if you double the applied stress within the elastic limit, the strain will also double, reflecting the linearity described by Hooke’s Law. This relationship is mathematically represented as σ = Eε, where σ is stress, E is the elastic modulus, and ε is strain.

Understanding this law is crucial for engineers, as it helps in the analysis and design of structures and components to ensure they can withstand applied loads without permanent deformation.