What is Conservative forces: Definition and 76 Discussions
A conservative force is a force with the property that the total work done in moving a particle between two points is independent of the path taken. Equivalently, if a particle travels in a closed loop, the total work done (the sum of the force acting along the path multiplied by the displacement) by a conservative force is zero.A conservative force depends only on the position of the object. If a force is conservative, it is possible to assign a numerical value for the potential at any point and conversely, when an object moves from one location to another, the force changes the potential energy of the object by an amount that does not depend on the path taken, contributing to the mechanical energy and the overall conservation of energy. If the force is not conservative, then defining a scalar potential is not possible, because taking different paths would lead to conflicting potential differences between the start and end points.
Gravitational force is an example of a conservative force, while frictional force is an example of a non-conservative force.
Other examples of conservative forces are: force in elastic spring, electrostatic force between two electric charges, and magnetic force between two magnetic poles. The last two forces are called central forces as they act along the line joining the centres of two charged/magnetized bodies. A central force is conservative if and only if it is spherically symmetric.
Homework Statement
For what value of the constant c is the force F=i(2x +y2)+ j(cxy) conservative?
Homework Equations
F = ma
The Attempt at a Solution
Unsure of where to start
Homework Statement
A spring is attached to a ceiling, and has a relaxed length of 25cm. When a mass m=.80kg is attached to the spring it stretches to an equilibrium length of L0=34cm.
a.)Find the Spring Constant of the Spring?
b.)I lift the mass until the spring returns to its relaxed length...
r=\frac{1}{2\pi\epsilon_{0}}\frac{Z_{1}Z_{2}}{mv^{2}}
The above formula is derived from coulomb's law. If we are talking about two same charges, then the force is repulsive, if two opposite charges, then attractive.
either the form of the above equation remains the same, only the meaning of...
Homework Statement
Work done by conservative forces = -\DeltaU
Homework Equations
Above.
The Attempt at a Solution
Here is the whole equation:
Wc+ Wnc = \DeltaK.
Wnc = \DeltaK + \DeltaU.
So, Wc = -\DeltaU.
But, for example, how does that apply in a situation with no...
Homework Statement
1. Is force F = (theta)r_hat conservative?
2. Is force which depends on velocity but is always perpendicular to velocity conservative?Homework Equations
1. theta is from 0 to 2pi and F is limited to xy plane onlyThe Attempt at a Solution
A 29 kg object is acted on by a conservative force given by F = (-2.4)x + (-5.2)x2, with F in Newtons and x in meters. Take the potential energy associated with the force to be zero when the object is at x = 0. What is the potential energy of the system associated with the force when the object...
Homework Statement
A single constant force F = (3i + 5j) N acts on a 4.00 kg particle. Calculate the work done by this force if the particle moves from the origin to the point having the vector position r = (2i - 3j)m.
Homework Equations
W= Fr
Wg= mgy1-mgy2
Wc= Ui - Uf
The Attempt...
Homework Statement
An object with an initial velocity V0 of 14 m/2 falls from a height of 240m and buries itself in 0.20 m of sand. The mass of the body is 1.0 kg. Find the average resistive force exerted by the sand on the body. Neglect air resistance.
Homework Equations...
Homework Statement
Our body muscles exert forces when we lift, push, run, jump, and so forth. Are these forces conservative?
It's a yes or no question.
Homework Equations
Not really sure what to put here, as it's not an equation kind of problem.
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm...
Homework Statement
A 1.50 kg toy rollercoaster rests on a ramp of height h. When the toy rollercoaster is released, it slides without friction to the bottom of the ramp, and then continues on a flat surface with a rough patch of width 10.0 cm that has a coefficient of kinetic friction µk =...
Homework Statement
A 4.5 kg block slides along a track from one level to a higher level after passing through an intermediate valley. The track is frictionless until the block reaches the higher level. There a frictional force stops the block in a distance d. The block's initial speed is v0 =...
Homework Statement
Show that F=-mgk is a conservative force with potential energy V=mgz
The Attempt at a Solution
I don't really know where to ven start with this one. I know it may be something to do with Newton's 2nd law F=ma, but i really don't know what to do
Homework Statement
I've attached the problems in a PDF file.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I've honestly made an attempt to all of these problems, and I've simply demonstrated to myself that I have no idea what I'm doing. I already posted part a of the first...
Homework Statement
none...
Suppose a force acts on an object. the force does not vary with time, nor with the position or velocity of the object. Start with the general definition of work done by force, and show that the force is conservative
Homework Equations
W = FX
Wnonconservative = KE...
[b]1. A girl swings on a playground swing in such a way that at her highest point she is 3 m from the ground, while at her lowest point she is 0.5m from the ground. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8m/s^2. What is her maximum speed? Answer in units of m/s.
[b]2. 1/2mVf^2 + mgyf =...
[SOLVED] Non conservative forces: work + coefficient of static friction
hey guys, I've been having a little trouble with some parts of this problem, hope someone can point me in the right direction
A 20[kg] sled starts up a 30 degrees incline with a speed of 2.4[m/s] the coefficient of...
A ball is moved from point A to point B, to point C, to point D, to point E, and back to point A. So, to make things easier... here's a diagram of the problem.
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/125/conservativeforcesvy3.jpg
We were asked to prove (mathematically) the concept that gravity...
Hi, i have a simple question..
What exactly are conservative and non - conservative forces?
and why are some forces conservative and other are not?
Thank you..
Homework Statement
A particle, starting from point A in the drawing (the height at A is 3.00 m), is projected down the curved runway. Upon leaving the runway at point B, the particle is traveling straight upward and reaches a height of 7.53 above the floor before falling back down. Ignoring...
hiee...
ther r sum sentences in ma textbk dat i ve neva been able 2 understand...:confused:
"a force is said to be conservative if wrk done by the force in a moving body depends only in the initial n final positions of the body during the motion"
does it mean dat a force is conservative if...
Two blocks, each with a mass m = 0.348 kg, can slide without friction on a horizontal surface. Initially, block 1 is in motion with a speed v = 1.56 m/s; block 2 is at rest. When block 1 collides with block 2, a spring bumper on block 1 is compressed. Maximum compression of the spring occurs...
In the figure below a 1.24 kg block is held at rest against a spring with a force constant k = 700 N/m.
Initially, the spring is compressed a distance d. When the block is released it slides across a surface that is frictionless, except for a section of width x = 4.85 cm that has a...
A skateboard track has the form of a circular arc with a 4.00 m radius, extending to an angle of 90.0° relative to the vertical on either side of the lowest point, as shown in the figure below.
A 55.9 kg skateboarder starts from rest at the top of the circular arc. What is the normal force...
2. at t=0 the particle is at rest x=12. after is release it can move under influence of conservative force whose potential energy is shown in the diagram. what is the position of the left turning point for this particle?
ans: At the moment, I am not sure how to convert his graph to visualize...
Hello everyone, I have a question about conservative forces.
I am given a function F = -kx^2 + ax^2 + bx^4, where a, b, and k are constants. I am asked to determine if this force is conservative or not, I don't know know how to prove this mathematically or theoretically. Please help!
In...