The formula for calculating the elastic potential energy is expressed as
Elastic potential energy = 1/2kx^2
where
k represents the spring constant
x represents the compression or distance by which the spring was stretched.
From the information given,
Elastic potential energy = 68
x = 6 cm
we would convert 6 cm to m. Recall,
100cm = 1 m
6 cm = 6/100 = 0.06 m
By substituting these values into the formula, we have
68 = 1/2 x k x 0.06^2
68 = 0.0018k
k = 68/0.0018
k = 37777.78 N/m
The spring constant is 37777.78 N/m