Answer:
Nine times
Explanation:
[tex]x_{i}[/tex] = Initial compression of the spring = 8 cm = 0.08 m
[tex]x_{f}[/tex] = Final compression of the spring = 24 cm = 0.24 m
[tex]k[/tex] = Spring constant of the spring
Initial spring energy is given as
[tex]U_{i} = (0.5) k x_{i}^{2}\\U_{i} = (0.5) k (8)^{2}\\U_{i} = 32 k[/tex]
Initial spring energy is given as
[tex]U_{f} = (0.5) k x_{f}^{2}\\U_{f} = (0.5) k (24)^{2}\\U_{f} = 288 k = (9) (32) k = 9 U_{i}[/tex]