Answer: 98 kN/m
Explanation:
Given
Mass of elephant [tex]m=5000\ kg[/tex]
Spring compresses from [tex]1\ m\ (100\ cm) \text{to}\ 50\ cm[/tex]
i.e. change in length is [tex]100-50=50\ cm[/tex]
spring force is given by [tex]kx[/tex]
where k=spring constant
x=change in length
The weight of elephant must be equal to the spring force
[tex]\Rightarrow W=kx\\\Rightarrow 5000\times 9.8=k\times 0.5\\\Rightarrow k=98,000\ N/m\ or\ 98\ kN/m[/tex]
