The spring constant \(k\) is a measure of how stiff the spring is, and is measured in units of newtons per meter \((\mathrm{N} / \mathrm{m})\). In this case one may approximately model the force as a ...The spring constant \(k\) is a measure of how stiff the spring is, and is measured in units of newtons per meter \((\mathrm{N} / \mathrm{m})\). In this case one may approximately model the force as a spring force with an "effective spring constant" \(k\), and allow at least an approximate answer to what might otherwise be a difficult problem.
