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Work by a constant force
Calculate mechanical work from force, displacement and their included angle.
Calculators / Science / Hooke’s law
Hooke’s law calculator
Find the restoring force of a spring from stiffness and signed displacement.
On this page
Restoring force-20N
Force magnitude20N
Calculator controls
How to calculate
Find the restoring force of a spring from stiffness and signed displacement.
Restoring force = -k*x N; Force magnitude = abs(k*x) N
Worked example
Spring constant (N/m): 200; Displacement (m): 0.1.
Restoring force: -20 N; Force magnitude: 20 N.
Assumptions and limits
Valid only in the spring’s linear elastic range. The negative sign indicates force opposing displacement; stiffness and stroke ratings need separate review.
Results are rounded for display; calculations use unrounded values. Read our calculation methodology.
Understanding the result
Find the restoring force of a spring from stiffness and signed displacement.
When this tool is useful
Restoring force = -k*x N; Force magnitude = abs(k*x) N
Understanding your inputs
| Input | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Spring constant (N/m) | Enter a number of at least 1e-12 and no more than 1000000000000. |
| Displacement (m) | Enter a number of at least -1000000000000 and no more than 1000000000000. |
Frequently asked questions
What assumptions does this calculation use?
Valid only in the spring’s linear elastic range. The negative sign indicates force opposing displacement; stiffness and stroke ratings need separate review.
How is the result calculated?
Restoring force = -k*x N; Force magnitude = abs(k*x) N