Jim releases a compressed spring. describe the energy transformation taking place in the spring. potential energy to kinetic energy, and total energy is conserved kinetic energy to potential energy, and some energy is lost as heat kinetic energy to potential energy, and potential energy is equal to kinetic energy potential energy to kinetic energy, and potential energy is always greater than kinetic energy

Potential energy to kinetic energy, and total energy is conserved

Explanation:

Potential energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its height, position or arrangement whereas kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. A sum total of potential energy and kinetic energy of an object is equal to its mechanical energy.

When we compress a spring, energy of our hand is stored in the spring as the potential energy of the spring which is being used to hold it in that particular position. At that time, it has total potential energy. As soon as we release the spring, it tends to stretch outside and jump outwards. It means it acquires kinetic energy. So, we can say that the potential energy is being transformed into kinetic energy.

Also, the spring will gain the same amount of kinetic energy which is being lost as potential energy keeping the total mechanical energy as constant. It means that the total energy of the spring is conserved.