What does Hooke's Law state?

Hooke's Law is fundamental in understanding the relationship between stress and strain in materials. The law specifically states that within the elastic limit of a material, the amount of deformation (strain) that occurs is directly proportional to the applied stress. This principle can be expressed mathematically as:

Stress = Elastic modulus × Strain

In this context, "stress" refers to the internal force per unit area within materials, while "strain" measures the deformation of the material in response to that stress. By stating "Stress is proportional to strain," the correct answer encapsulates the essence of Hooke's Law, which allows engineers and scientists to predict how materials will behave under various loading conditions.

Understanding this relationship is crucial when designing structures and mechanical components, ensuring that they can withstand forces without failing. The other choices do not accurately represent the concept of Hooke's Law, as they either misstate the relationship or introduce unrelated factors such as time or imply incorrect independence.