Final answer:
To determine the force p on the cable when the spring is compressed by 0.5 in, we can use Hooke's Law (F=kx). The measurement of one variable (displacement) is required to determine the force using Hooke's Law.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the force p on the cable when the spring is compressed by 0.5 in, we can use Hooke's Law (F=kx). The force constant (k) of the spring needs to be known.
To determine k, the measurement of the displacement (x) is required. Therefore, using Hooke's Law (F=kx) requires the measurement of one variable (displacement) to determine the force p on the cable.