Suppose a 0.3-kg mass on a spring that has been compressed 0.10 m has elastic potential energy of 1.0 j. how much further must the spring be compressed to triple the elastic potential energy?

Explanation:

Potential energy of the spring is given by the formula

so here we can say that the potential energy stored in the spring is directly depends upon the square of the deformation of the spring

So here we can say that

so we have

now if we have to increase the potential energy to triple of this initial value

then we have

so we will have

so we have to further compress the spring by

hi there!

out of the two, (b) precision would be more reasonable.   however, both a and b could be pretty reasonable.

-awesomerepublic   : )