Here, k is called the spring constant and represents how stiff the spring is. The value s describes how far the spring is stretched or compressed from the equilibrium position.

The Search For A Constant When wound to maximum capacity, the force delivered from the mainspring is at its highest, and when fully wound, the spring is coiled tightly around a central arbor.

The spring constant shows how easy or hard it is to stretch a spring, for example a spring with a spring constant, k = 4 N/cm means a force of 4N is required to stretch the spring by 1 cm.