Answer:
Hooke's law. According to Hooke's law: as long as the elastic limit of a material is not exceeded, the extension, e, of that material corresponds proportionally to the applied force.
Explanation:
The relevant principle that describes the conservation of potential energy in a compressed spring is Hooke's law. It states that provided the elastic limit is not surpassing, the extension, e, is proportional to the force applied.
In mathematical terms, Hooke's law is expressed as:
F = ke
where: F is the force exerted, k is the spring constant, and e signifies the expansion of the spring.
When a spring is compressed, its potential energy equates to the work done by the spring.
Potential energy = work done =
k
Therefore, the law applicable in testing the claim made by the company is Hooke's law.