A 2.0 kg mass is attached to one end of a spring

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The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving two masses connected by a spring on a frictionless surface. The key question is whether the spring is compressed or extended at a specific moment when one mass moves to the right and the other to the left. The original poster believes their answer is incorrect, while another participant confirms that the answer D, indicating that the motion started with at least one mass moving, is indeed correct. They explain that without knowing the spring's natural length or its state at the moment of observation, options A, B, and E cannot be definitively concluded. The conservation of momentum is highlighted, showing that the system's initial momentum is not zero, which supports the assertion that at least one mass must have been in motion initially.
ctv1337
I am currently taking physics right now and i had the following question on a homework assignment. I have the right answer but i don't believe its correct. Can anyone help me prove him wrong or give me a better explanation of why his answer is correct?

-------here is the problem-----------
A 2.0 kg mass is attached to one end of a spring with a spring constant of 100 N/m and a 4.0 kg mass is attached to the other end. The masses are placed on a horizontal frictionless surface and set into motion. At one instant the 2.0 kg mass is observed to be traveling to the right with a speed of 0.50 m/s and the 4.0 kg mass is observed to be traveling to the left with a speed of 0.30 m/s. Since the only forces acting are the force of gravity, the normal force of the surface, and the force of the spring, we conclude that:
A) the spring is compressed at the time of the observation
B) the spring is not compressed at the time of observation
C) the motion was started with the masses at rest
D) the motion was started with at least one of masses moving
E) the motion was started by compressing the spring \

he said the answer was D can anyone help?
a picture is attached to help see both ways

https://webspace.utexas.edu/pourkc/PHYS/spring.jpg
 

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No, he is correct.

Compare the ratios of the speeds and masses of the two weights.
 
A)As we don't know the natural length of the spring and the length at the observation, we can't say spring is compressed or extended.
B) same as above.
C)If so, masses stay still.
E)Starting by compressing and stretching both can make the same motion. We can't say so.
Remaining D) is correct.
 
I think it has to do with the conservation of momentum. The momentum of the system is
m1*v1 - m2*v2 (the signs can be changed if you change the reference system) = 2*0.5 - 4*0.3 = -0.2 N/s
So the initial momentum of the system is not 0 => something was initially moving...
 
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