Will the spring stretch or compress?

[yesmale4]

Homework Statement

A spring (k = 711 N/m) is attached to the ceiling of an elevator. How much will the spring stretch (relative to its unstretched length), if a 5.8 kg object is attached to the lower end and the elevator is accelerating downward at 0.41 m/s2?

Relevant Equations

Hooke's law
F=ma

i would like to understand why my answer is incorrect i don't know what I am doing wrong i would like for some help

 

[anuttarasammyak]

Acceleration of elevator downward lessen g which amounts 9.8-0.4 downward.

 

[kuruman]

Is the effective acceleration of gravity when the elevator is accelerating down greater or less than g = 9.81 m/s²?

 

[yesmale4]

Is the effective acceleration of gravity when the elevator is accelerating down greater or less than g = 9.81 m/s²?

less

 

[yesmale4]

Acceleration of elevator downward lessen g which amounts 9.8-0.4 downward.

i try this i did (-5.8*(9.81-0.41))/711 and get -0.0766m and its still the wrong answer

 

[Orodruin]

The problem asks for the stretch of the spring. Will the spring stretch or compress?