When is Hooke's law obeyed?

Hooke's Law is obeyed when the material or object being stretched or compressed remains within its elastic limit, meaning it returns to its original shape after the applied force is removed. This typically occurs in many elastic materials, such as rubber and metals, when the deformations are small and proportional to the applied stress. If the force exceeds the elastic limit, the material may undergo permanent deformation, and Hooke's Law no longer applies.