Question

What type of energy is possessed by wound spring of a watch?

Answer 1

1. The spring possesses kinetic energy if and only if it is released and unwound so that it starts to move.
2. So, the energy stored in the spring is potential energy as the wounded spring of a watch remains at the static initial position.
3. As soon as the spring is unwounded, all the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy and transferred to its moving parts.
4. The wound spring of the watch possesses elastic potential energy.