When you stretch a spring 33 cm past its natural length, it exerts a force of 6 N. What is the spring constant of this spring?

The spring formula:

Force = - (spring constant) · (distance stretched or squashed)

6 N = - (spring constant) · (33 cm)

= - (0.33 m) · (spring constant)

Spring constant = - (6 N) / (0.33 m)

= - 18.18 N/meter.

The negative signs means that the spring always wants to go in the

opposite direction from where you forced it, and return to its relaxed

length. If you stretch it, it tries to get shorter, and if you compress it,

it tries to get longer.