Science
Restoring force.
Definition
A restoring force is a force that acts to bring an object back toward its equilibrium position. It is always directed opposite to the displacement from equilibrium and is responsible for oscillatory motion in springs and pendulums.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 A stretched rubber band pulling back to its original length
- 2 A pendulum swinging back toward its lowest point
- 3 A spring returning to its natural length after being compressed
Key Fact
For a spring: F = −kx (Hooke's law); the negative sign indicates the force opposes displacement