That is better given one is more comfortable with mechanical systems. Since my field is EE, I tend to do the opposite: translate a problem to the electrical domain to be more intuitive about it.
You can use Bond graphs[1] to easily translate between different domains (Mechanical translation,Mechanical rotation, Electromagnetic, Hydraulic and Thermic in a more limited way). This technique generalises force and voltage to "Effort" and velocity and current to "Flow".
* they store energy;
* they can release energy quickly;
* when put in parallel they get stronger;
* when put in series they get weaker;
* the RCL circuit differential equation is the same differential equation as the damped harmonic oscillator.