I am using gravity as conservative and friction as non-conservative. Other than
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I am using gravity as conservative and friction as non-conservative.
Other than being path independent and only dependent on the final and initial positions and net work in a full loop being zero, is there any further reason for it being a conservative force?
Likewise the same for friction. It's independent because more work can be done depending on the path taken and net work back and forth being non zero, what other reasons are there for it being a non-conservative force?
2. Give an example of a conservative force and a non-conservative force. Please give an explanation along with examples. (2 pts)Explanation / Answer
Your concept about conservative and non-conservative force is absolutely correct. These are the correct definitions of conservative and non-conservative forces. In addition, as a consequence of these definitions we can say that:
If a force is conservative then it is possible to assign a numerical value as its potential, which is absolutely independent of the path taken. The conservative force changes its potential energy which is dependent only on its position. On the other hand for a non-conservative force, it is not possible to define a scalar potential because taking different path will lead to different value of energy which will give rise to a conflict between the values at beginning and end point for its different path. As a result we have potential energy for gravitational force but not for frictional force.
Other examples of conservative forces are: force in elastic spring, electrostatic force between two charges etc. For all of them we have a position dependent potential energy.
Other examples of non-conservative force: force in non-elastic spring.
I want to add one more thing, that under conservative force the work done against the force is stored in the system or the particle as its internal energy or potential energy. And for non-conservative system this work done is dissipated and transforms into heat energy or sound.
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