What is a primary function of springs?

Springs are designed to store and release energy, which is a fundamental principle behind their primary function. One of the key roles of springs is to hold things under tension or compression. When a spring is stretched or compressed, it exerts a force that can stabilize or support objects. This is commonly seen in applications like vehicle suspensions, where springs absorb shocks and help maintain stability, as well as in various mechanical systems where tension is needed to keep components in place.

Springs are not typically used to measure force directly, although they can be part of a system that does so. While they can be compressed to store energy, describing this action simply as “compressing energy” doesn’t capture the essential role of springs in tension. The idea of exerting torque generally pertains to rotational motion and is not a primary function of springs, which primarily deal with linear forces. Thus, the ability of springs to hold things under tension is indeed their most significant and recognizable function.