Answer: 60 Joules (J)
Step-by-step explanation:
To compute the work done by a force, you can use the formula:
Work = Force × Distance × cosθ
In this case, the force applied is 300 N, and the distance is 20 cm (which can be converted to meters by dividing by 100, giving us 0.20 m).
The angle θ represents the angle between the direction of the force and the direction of displacement. Since the force is used to compress the spring, the displacement is in the same direction as the force, and the angle θ is 0 degrees. The cosine of 0 degrees is 1, so we can omit the cosine term.
Now we can calculate the work done:
Work = 300 N × 0.20 m
Work = 60 Joules (J)
Therefore, the work done by the force in compressing the spring is 60 Joules (J).