Spring Constant - GCSE Physics Definition

The spring constant, often represented by the letter , is a measure of how stiff or stretchy a spring is. It tells you how much force is needed to stretch or compress the spring by a certain length. If a spring has a high spring constant, it means it is very stiff and requires more force to stretch it. On the other hand, if the spring constant is low, the spring is more flexible and easier to stretch. Understanding the spring constant helps us predict how springs will behave when forces are applied to them, and it is a key concept in physics when studying forces and elasticity.