Final answer:
To find the restoring force of the spring with a spring constant of 0.370 N/m stretched 0.160 m, we use Hooke's Law, resulting in a force of 0.0592 N.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the restoring force (in newtons) of a spring, we use Hooke's Law, which states that the force exerted by a spring is directly proportional to the distance it is stretched or compressed from its equilibrium position. The equation for this is F = -kx, where F is the restoring force, k is the spring constant, and x is the displacement from the equilibrium position.
In this case, with a spring constant k=0.370 N/m and a displacement of x=0.160 m, we can calculate the restoring force as:
F = -kx = -(0.370 N/m)(0.160 m) = -0.0592 N
Since the force is a restoring force acting in the opposite direction of displacement, it is represented as negative, indicating direction. However, if we are interested in the magnitude only, we can say the spring exerts a restoring force of 0.0592 N.