Question

A compressed spring has 16.2 J of elastic potential energy when it is compressed 0.30 m. What is the spring constant of the spring?

90 N/m
108 N/m
180 N/m
360 N/m

Answer 1

Use U = 1/2 k x^2 → k = 2U / x^2.

k = 2(16.2 J) / (0.30 m)^2 = 32.4 / 0.09 = 360 N/m.

Answer: 360 N/m.