Answer
The athlete is pushing with a force of 37.5 N
Work Step by Step
We can find the force that the spring pushes when it is compressed 5.0 cm:
$F = kx$
$F = (750~N/m)(0.050~m)$
$F = 37.5~N$
The spring pushes with a force of 37.5 N. According to Newton's third law, the athlete must also be pushing with a force of 37.5 N.
