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An italic k, stiffness in newtons per metre.
Also known as: Stiffness constant, Hooke's constant, Force constant
k is how much force a spring exerts per unit of stretch, and Hooke's law F = −kx is only an approximation that fails once a material yields. The minus sign, not the k, is what makes it a restoring force.
Denotes the spring or stiffness constant relating restoring force to displacement.
Contexts: Laboratory
Describes only the elastic regime; beyond a material's yield point the linear relation fails and k is no longer defined.
Contexts: Laboratory
Collides with the Boltzmann constant, thermal conductivity and the wavenumber, all lowercase k.
Contexts: Laboratory
An italic lowercase letter k, a vertical stroke with two diagonal strokes meeting it at mid-height.