This paper aims to analyze elastic elements with linear and nonlinear responses. A comparative study was conducted of three helical springs, one linear and two nonlinear, and a latex tourniquet. The study involved a survey of force versus distance curves and their mathematical adjustments for each elastic element. The proposal is to present different ways of approaching the subject elasticity in physics classes, aiming to draw the attention of the student that the linearity is Hooke's law applies only to a small band of force values and that in many situations the elastic elements have a non-linear behavior, being necessary to use other mathematical relationships that fit the experimental data.
Keywords:
Hooke's law; spring; nonlinear
