If a spring compresses one inch for every 50 pounds of force applied, how much force is needed to compress the spring 10 inches?

To understand how much force is needed to compress the spring 10 inches, we can analyze the relationship given in the problem. The information states that the spring compresses one inch for every 50 pounds of force applied. This means that for each inch of compression, a corresponding force of 50 pounds is required.

To find the total force needed to compress the spring 10 inches, we can use the ratio of force to compression. Since the spring compresses 1 inch with 50 pounds, to find out the force for 10 inches, we simply multiply the force required for 1 inch by the number of inches we want to compress:

Force for 10 inches = 50 pounds/inch × 10 inches = 500 pounds.

Therefore, 500 pounds of force is required to compress the spring a total of 10 inches. This calculation aligns perfectly with the given choices, confirming that the correct answer is 500 lbs.