What We Mean by Force

One newton is defined as the force that will accelerate 1 kilogram of mass at a rate of 1 m/s This reladonship is based on Newtons law of modon. 

In comparison, 1 pound force will accelerate 1 slug at a rate of 1 ft/s, as given by 1 Ibf = (1 slug)(l ft/s ) 

Hooke s law (named after Robert Hooke, an En )ish scientist who proposed the law) states that over the elastic range the deformation of a spring is direedy proportional to the applied force, according to 

X = deformation of the spring (mm or cm or in.—use units that are consistent with 

The spring constant k is determined calculating the slope of a force-deflection line (recall chat the slope of a line is determined from slope = rise/run, and for this problem, the slope = change in force/change in deflection). This approach leads to a value of = 0.54 N/mm. 

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