Question

A force is said to be conservative if work done by or agains the force depends only on initial and final positions of the body and not on the nature of path followed.
A force is said to be non-conservative, if work done by or against the force in moving a body from one position to another, depeds on the path followed between these two positions.
Potential energy is defined only for conservative forces. It does not exist for non-conservative forces.
Read the above passage and answer the following question :
(i) Give two examples, each for conservative and non-conservative forces.
(ii) Potential energy does not exist for non-conservative forces. What does it imply ini day to day life ?

Answer 1

(i) Examples of conservative forces are gravitational forces `,` electrostatic forces.
Examples of non- conservative forces are frictional forces `,` viscous forces.
(ii) Potential energy is the enrgy stored in the body on account of work done on teh body. Non conservative forces are only the opposing forces, you go one way or the other. Work done against them is a shear forces are only the opposing forces, you go one way or the other. Work done against them is a shear waste.It is not retrievable. ltbr. In day to day life, it implies that whatever way of life we adopt, there are hurdles, obstacles, loop holes which act as sinks of energy. They must be minimised to the extent possible. Energy spent againt them is not retrieveable.