Originally Posted By: Bill S.
My point was simply that the rate of dissipation of energy is greater when the spring is "trying" to do work, even if it is not succeeding within the meaning of the work function. Is this something that can just be ignored in order to make fact fit theory?


Yes it can. The theory only describes work, not other types of energy. If the spring is radiating light, then that can be ignored too.

Can you explain why something should use up energy when applying a static force?