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?

Elastic potential energy is U = ½kx², so solve for the spring constant: k = 2U/x². Substituting U = 16.2 J and x = 0.30 m gives k = 2(16.2)/(0.30)² = 32.4/0.09 = 360 N/m, which is choice D.

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