Springs are considered a non-conservative force why is the

In summary, when a moving object compresses a spring, the mechanical energy is conserved even though springs are considered non-conservative forces. This is because the spring force is actually conservative, allowing for the use of the potential energy = kinetic energy equation. However, it is important to note that while the spring compression is conservative, the initial collision between the bullet and wood is not, as it does not conserve kinetic energy but rather momentum.
  • #1
mrshappy0
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Homework Statement


Quick conceptual questions:

Is springs are considered a non-conservative force why is the mechanical energy conserved when a moving object compresses the spring?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



This isn't a homework question or anything but I working on a problem that involves a spring and the problem says that a mass horizontally attached to a spring is moving compressed by a bullet being shot into the mass (wood) and that the mechanical energy is conserved during the compression of the spring. Confused.
 
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  • #2


mrshappy0 said:
Is springs are considered a non-conservative force why is the mechanical energy conserved when a moving object compresses the spring?
Who said that the spring force is non-conservative?
 
  • #3


Hmm... Wow.. People troll to much. hah.. So it is conservative.
 
  • #4


Sure, a spring force is conservative. That's why you can have a spring potential energy function.

But be careful with that 'bullet getting shot into the wood' problem. While the spring compression is conservative, the initial collision of bullet and wood does not conserve kinetic energy: it's an inelastic collision.
 
  • #5


Right. Potential energy is conserved in inelastic collisions. This allows the use of the potential energy = kinetic energy. THanks Doc!
 
  • #6


mrshappy0 said:
Potential energy is conserved in inelastic collisions. This allows the use of the potential energy = kinetic energy.
Not exactly! What's conserved in an inelastic collision (and all collisions, actually) is momentum.
 
  • #7
Oops I meant momentum. Slipped up on my words. To many new concepts flopping around in my word recall section in my brain.
 

FAQ: Springs are considered a non-conservative force why is the

Why are springs considered a non-conservative force?

Springs are considered a non-conservative force because their magnitude and direction depend on the displacement of the object they are acting on. This means that the work done by a spring is not independent of the path taken by the object, and thus, energy cannot be conserved.

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

Conservative forces are those that do not depend on the path taken by an object and can be described by a potential energy function. Non-conservative forces, on the other hand, do depend on the path and cannot be described by a potential energy function.

Do all springs behave as non-conservative forces?

No, not all springs behave as non-conservative forces. Ideal springs that follow Hooke's Law, where the force is directly proportional to the displacement, are considered conservative forces. However, real springs may exhibit non-conservative behavior due to factors such as friction and air resistance.

Can a non-conservative force do work?

Yes, non-conservative forces can do work. However, this work is not independent of the path taken and thus, energy cannot be conserved. This means that the work done by a non-conservative force cannot be fully recovered as kinetic energy, as some of it is lost due to the dependence on the path.

How does the non-conservative nature of springs affect their use in mechanical systems?

The non-conservative nature of springs means that they cannot be used to store or transfer energy efficiently. This is because the work done by a spring cannot be fully recovered and some energy is lost in the system. Therefore, springs may not be the best choice for critical components in mechanical systems that require precise energy conservation.

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