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If we consider an experiment of pulling a spring with a constant force $F$, then by Newton's Third Law of Motion we should experience an equal reaction force $F$ in the opposite direction. But by Hooke's Law, a stretched spring should exert a force proportional to the amount of stretching ($x$), that is, force should be $k\times x$. How can the two possible at the same time? I am sure that I must be missing something, maybe something to do with the internal of spring, but I can't figure out what.

Qmechanic
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Big Brother
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    When you pull, one end of the spring by a distance $x$, you apply force of $kx$ in one direction. The spring then pulls back with a force $-kx$ (by Newton's Third Law) to keep the spring in equilibrium. What is the confusion here? – Sam Jan 26 '20 at 13:07
  • It is not true that you can only pull with force kx, it can be anything, after all, you are the one who is pulling it. – Big Brother Jan 26 '20 at 13:09
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    To pull the spring by distance $x$, you will have to apply a force of $kx$ so long as Hooke's law is still obeyed for that distance $x$. – Sam Jan 26 '20 at 13:21
  • Hooks low hold till elastic limit. And if you say force can be anything then they will be beyond elastic limit, so no law will be applied. – आर्यभट्ट Jan 26 '20 at 13:25
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    This question has nothing to do with the elastic limit. NOTHING. Can we please drop that discussion? Suggestion to the original poster: if you change the first sentence to "ideal spring" this discussion goes away on its own. – garyp Jan 26 '20 at 14:12
  • I'm sorry to say this but y'all are a bunch of idiots,the og asked such a great question about newtons 3rd law, but you all got some weird brain and went to discussion on elasticity – Aakash Apr 28 '23 at 02:12

2 Answers2

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If we consider an experiment of pulling a spring with a constant force $F$, then by Newton's Third Law of Motion we should experience an equal reaction force $F$ in the opposite direction.

The spring provides a restoring force $F=kx$, as long as it is not stretched beyond capacity.

But stretched beyond capacity it will still provide a restoring force but it will no longer be proportional to $x$.

But before the response is such that $F=kx$, that is, $x $ is less than $F/k$, what is the reaction?

We need to look at this dynamically. Assume a point mass $m$ attached to the spring, where the force $F$ will act on. The spring is kept horizontal $x$-axis (so we don't need to account for gravity)

Say that at $t=0$, $x=0$ and we start applying the constant force $F$ (assume also the spring to be of $0$ mass). The spring's restorative force is also $0$ (because at that point $x=0$).

Since there is now a net force acting on the point mass, by N2L there must be acceleration:

$$F=ma$$

More generally (for $x>0$)

$$\Sigma F_i=ma$$ So: $$F-kx=m\ddot{x}$$ So for $x=\frac{F}{k}$:

$$F=kx \Rightarrow \ddot{x}=a=0$$

Gert
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  • I am not at all asking if force is kx till a particular capacity or not, I am just asking why Newton's Law says that force exerted by spring should be F (which is constant) and Hooke's Law says it should be kx. – Big Brother Jan 26 '20 at 13:20
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    I thought that was self-evident? As the force $F$ extends the spring, the spring's response gradually increases, until $F=kx$. – Gert Jan 26 '20 at 14:16
  • But before the response is such that F=kx, that is, x is less than F/k, what is the reaction? Newton's third law says it should be F whereas Hooke's law says it should be kx(<F). – Big Brother Jan 26 '20 at 14:25
  • Please see my edit. – Gert Jan 26 '20 at 15:30
  • So there's a mass on a spring and you are pulling it with force F. Gert's post shows that initially there is an acceleration because there is a net force on the mass because kx < F. When x is large enough so that kx = F, the acceleration is 0. Newton's third law says that the mass always exerts an equal and opposite force to F throughout this process. But that reaction force is not what is considered when finding the motion of the mass as it is not acting on the mass. – Not_Einstein Jan 26 '20 at 15:42
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The reaction force will be $F$. If the displacement of the spring is linear up to the magnitude of that force, $k = \frac{F}{x}$

Claudio Saspinski
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