Final answer:
The spring must be stretched by approximately 8.1 cm for its potential energy to be 44 J.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate how far the spring must be stretched, we can use the equation:
PE = 1/2 kx^2
where PE is the potential energy, k is the force constant of the spring, and x is the displacement.
Rearranging the equation, we have:
x =√(2PE/k)
Plugging in the given values, we get:
x =√(2 * 44 J / 60000 N/m) = 0.081 m = 8.1 cm
Therefore, the spring must be stretched by approximately 8.1 cm for its potential energy to be 44 J.