Strut Movement/Explanation Of How They Work

I am trying to diagnose an issue with my struts although I don’t have a working pair to see/test the differences between them. All I can do at this stage is rely on logic, mechanics aren’t really helpful at explaining how they operate either and resources online don’t seem to help me either.

1. Should the top strut mount spin freely/with some resistance when turned by hand but smoothly when fully assembled but off the car? (Logically I would assume this to be the case given the bearing underneath it?).

2. The assembly consists of when attached to the vehicle:

• Top strut mount (fixed doesn’t move).
• Top strut bearing (ability to spin/turn).
• Coil metal cap (fixed doesn’t move).
• Coil rubber damper (fixed doesn’t move).
• Coil itself (ability to twist).
• Bottom of strut "cap" (fixed doesn’t move).
• Strut bottom end itself attached and squeezing the coil spring.

2a. When turning the steering the bottom end of the strut moves in the direction, this twists/moves the "Bottom of strut "cap", this in turn twists the coil spring which moves up the coil all the way through to the Top strut bearing which allows it to turn smoothly, this "pressurises" the coil and once the steering is released, the coil begins to untwist and returns to its default position. Is that understanding correct?

2b. Based on 2a. there should be absolutely no moving ability except the twisting of the coil along with the turning of the top strut mount bearing?

Thanks.