Understanding the Concepts

* Work: Work is done when a force causes a displacement. It's calculated as:

* Work (W) = Force (F) × Displacement (d)

* Hooke's Law: This law applies to springs and elastic materials. It states that the force exerted by a spring is proportional to its extension or compression.

* Force (F) = Spring Constant (k) × Extension (x)

Solving the Problem

1. Convert Units:

* The displacement is given as 1.2 cm, which needs to be converted to meters: 1.2 cm = 0.012 m.

2. Find the Spring Constant (k):

* We know the force (10 N) and the extension (0.012 m). We can rearrange Hooke's Law to solve for 'k':

* k = F / x = 10 N / 0.012 m = 833.33 N/m (approximately)

3. Calculate the Work:

* Now that we have the spring constant, we can calculate the work done.

* Since the force is not constant (it increases with extension), we need to use the average force:

* Average Force = (Initial Force + Final Force) / 2

* In this case, the initial force is 0 (when the cord is unstretched), and the final force is 10 N.

* Average Force = (0 + 10 N) / 2 = 5 N

* Work = Average Force × Displacement

* Work = 5 N × 0.012 m = 0.06 Joules

Answer: The total work done is approximately 0.06 Joules.