A mass of 1.0 kg is pushed against a spring with a spring constant of 25 N/m. As a result, the spring is compressed by 20 cm. The mass is then released. What is the amount of potential energy acquired by the spring when it is compressed?

Which best describes the first law of thermodynamics as compared to the second law of thermodynamics? a. the first law describes how thermal energy is conserved but not the direction it moves. b. the first law describes the direction thermal energy moves but not how it is conserved. c. the first law describes how thermal energy can be created but not how it can be destroyed. d. the first law describes how thermal energy can be destroyed but not how it can be created.