Conservation of Energy, thinking question

[ninevolt]

Since we all know that energy is conserved, it is converted from one form to another, I want to ask you what happens to the energy when a compressed spring, in a vacuum is released? Where does the energy go, does it simply become heat energy in the spring, or is it transferred another way?

 

[I.el-sayed]

I thinks the energy in the spring which equals 1/2kx^2 will transfer into a K.E which equals to 0.5mv^2, and the v will not decrease because we have no friction there.

 

[russ_watters]

If it is released and oscillates, internal resistances will dampen the vibration and convert the energy to heat.