A force of 20 N causes a spring to stretch 5 cm.What is the spring constant?
A)1 N/m
B)2 N/m
C)20 N/m
D)400 N/m

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

We can use Hooke's Law, which states that the force exerted on a spring is directly proportional to its displacement from its equilibrium position. We can express this mathematically as F = -kx, where F is the applied force, k is the spring constant, and x is the displacement.
From the given information, we have F = 20 N and x = 5 cm = 0.05 m.
Substituting these values into Hooke's Law, we get:
20 N = -k(0.05 m)
Solving for k, we get:
k = -20 N / (0.05 m) = 400 N/m
Therefore, the spring constant is 400 N/m, and the best choice is D.

A Force of 20 N Causes a Spring to Stretch