A 0.50-kg mass is placed on the end of a vertical spring that has a spring constant of 75 N/m and eased down into its equilibrium position.

(a) Determine the change in spring (elastic) potential energy of the system.

PEs=1/2kx^2=1/2(75)(0.5)^2=9.375

(b) Determine the system’s change in gravitational potential energy.

PEg=mgh=(.5)(9.8)h