Graphing Fx=kx (hooke's law) why is Fx on the y-axis when clearly it is the independent variable.?

Question

Fx=kx
Fx is force applied to Spring
k is constant (N/m)
x is change in length of the spring

Answer 1

First, Fx <> kx; F = kx, there is no x on the LHS.

x is the independent variable and F is the dependent variable. F depends on x, given k is a constant.

When you graphs F vs x, you'll get a straight line with k as the slope. [Where will the Y intercept be?]

Answer 2

this is because when looking at the apparatus the force applied to move the spring a distance is equivalent to the force the spring acts in the opposite direction of the applied force. In this case the force applied by the spring is Dependant of the distance it undergoes thus graphing it in the y axis. also the relationship will prove to be the same whether or not force is graphed int he y axis. the relationship will be F=Kx or x=Kf which when rearranged for force proves to be the same equation