Give an example of a conservative force and a non-conservative force. Please explain, along with examples.

College Physics
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ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
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Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
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 Give an example of a conservative force and a non-conservative force. Please explain, along with examples.

 

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A conservative force is a force used to move a particle from one point to another that is independent of the particle's route. It is only determined by the particle's beginning and final positions. Conservative forces include gravitational force and elastic spring forces.

The force of gravity is an example of a conservative force. Gravity acts on a ball kicked from the ground into the air, and the work done by gravity on the ball depends simply on the vertical change in height. Gravity's net work is 0 when the ball reaches the earth again. When only conservative forces act in a system, the total mechanical energy, which is the sum of kinetic and potential energies, remains constant. This means that kinetic energy is converted to potential energy and vice versa without any mechanical energy loss.

 

 

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