Final answer:
The force constant of the spring in the scale is 125 N/m.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force constant of a spring is determined by Hooke's Law, which states that the force exerted by a spring is directly proportional to the displacement of the spring from its equilibrium position, and is given by the equation F = -kx, where F is the force, k is the force constant, and x is the displacement. In this question, we are given that the spring stretches 8.00 cm for a 10.0 kg load. To find the force constant, we can rearrange the equation to solve for k: k = -F/x. Plugging in the values, we have k = -(-10 N)/(0.08 m) = 125 N/m.