What is the difference between conservative and non-conservative forces?

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Answer

A conservative force is a force that does not remove mechanical energy from the system. ... Non-conservative forces do remove mechanical energy from the system. Examples of non-conservative forces include air resistance and (kinetic) friction.Conservative forces can be associated with a Potential Energy

Answer

Conservative force is a force that does not remove mechanical energy from the system. ... Non-conservative forces do remove mechanical energy from the system. Examples of non-conservative forces include air resistance and (kinetic) friction.Conservative forces can be associated with a Potential Energy.

Answer

Conservative vs Non-conservative Forces
Conservative and non-conservative forces are two categories that describe the effects of forces on objects in physics. Understanding the difference between these two types of forces is crucial in analyzing the motion of objects.

Conservative Forces:
- Conservative forces are those that do work on an object in such a way that the total work done is independent of the path taken.
- Examples of conservative forces include gravitational force, electrostatic force, and spring force.
- The work done by a conservative force is path-independent, meaning it only depends on the initial and final positions of the object.
- The potential energy associated with conservative forces is a function of the position of the object and not the path taken.

Non-conservative Forces:
- Non-conservative forces are those that do work on an object in such a way that the total work done is dependent on the path taken.
- Examples of non-conservative forces include friction, air resistance, and tension in a rope.
- The work done by a non-conservative force is path-dependent, meaning it varies based on the specific path taken by the object.
- The potential energy associated with non-conservative forces is not well-defined and can change based on the path taken.

Differences:
1. Conservative forces have a potential energy associated with them, while non-conservative forces do not have a well-defined potential energy function.
2. Conservative forces do work that is independent of the path taken, while non-conservative forces do work that is dependent on the path.
3. The work done by conservative forces can be stored as potential energy, while the work done by non-conservative forces is typically dissipated as heat or sound.
In conclusion, the key difference between conservative and non-conservative forces lies in the path-dependency of the work done and the presence of a potential energy function. Understanding these distinctions is essential in physics and engineering applications.

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