Energy Changes in Spring Compression

Steps:

• The mass lowers the spring's position, reducing its height and thus gravitational potential energy (GPE = mgh).
• Compressing the spring deforms it, increasing stored elastic potential energy (EPE = ½kx²).
• No external work adds GPE to the spring; the mass's descent transfers energy.
• Overall, the spring loses GPE while gaining EPE from deformation.

Why D is correct:

• D matches the physics: GPE decreases as height drops (per mgh formula), and EPE increases from compression (per ½kx² law).

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Spring loses GPE, does not gain it.
• B: Spring gains EPE, does not lose it.
• C: Spring gains EPE, does not lose it.

Final answer: D