Final answer:
The minimum distance between two objects connected by a spring during oscillation is at the spring's equilibrium length. Without additional information, assuming the equilibrium length is 25 cm as mentioned, when released from an expansion of 3 cm, the minimum distance would be 25 cm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question focuses on determining the minimum distance between two objects of the same mass connected by a spring when it's expanded and released. For a spring connecting two objects, when no external forces are applied (ignoring gravity, air resistance, etc.), and assuming the system is in a horizontal plane, the spring would oscillate around its equilibrium length (the natural length of the spring). Assuming that the spring is expanded to 3 cm beyond its natural or equilibrium length and then released, the objects would oscillate, and the minimum distance between them will be when the spring is at its equilibrium length, where the expansion or compression is zero.
However, to accurately determine the minimum distance between the two objects, it is essential to know the natural length of the spring. Without additional information about the spring's natural (unstretched) length, it's impossible to give a precise answer. Nevertheless, if the question implies that the spring's natural length is the 25 cm mentioned, and the spring is expanded by an additional 3 cm, then when the spring returns to its natural length during oscillation, the minimum distance would be 25 cm.