CONSERVATIVE AND NON-CONSERVATIVE FORCES

CONSERVATIVE FORCES

The gravitational force has an interesting property that when an object moves from a
From one place to another, the work done by gravitational force does not depend on the choice of path.
or trajectory. The work done by gravity depends only on the initial and final heights, and not
of the path traveled between these heights.

For this reason, gravitational force is called a conservative force, as it meets the
following conditions:

• A force is conservative when the work it does on a moving object is

independent of the path followed between the initial and final positions of the object.
• A force is conservative when it does not do net work on an object that is moving.
around a closed path, starting and ending at the same point. That is,
The net work done on a particle in a closed path is equal to zero.

For example, suppose a particle moves from point a to point b as shown in the figure.
along trajectory 1 or trajectory 2, while in figure (1b) the particle
moves on a round trip, from point A to point B along route 1 and then returns
to the point along the way 2.

Figure 1.
If only a conservative force acts on the particle, then the work done on the
the particle is the same along the trajectory followed by either of the two paths. In
símbolos, podemos escribir este resultado como

a→b,1= a→b,2

where the subscript a indicates the initial and final points, respectively, and the subscripts 1 and 2
they indicate the trajectory.

If we know the work, → , performed by a conservative force on an object while moving

this is for a trajectory from point A to point B, so we also know the work, → , that
exerts the same force on the object when it moves along the path in the direction
opposite, from pointb to pointa. (Figure 1b)

→ =− →

Since the trajectory towards a return forms a closed trajectory, the

the sum of the contributions of work along the trajectory must be equal to zero. In other words,

→ + → =0

EXAMPLE. Calculate the work done by the gravitational force on the object for each item.
figure 2

mg mg

mg

Figure 2
Figure (2a)

= ⃗⃗⃗ . ∆r = m * h * cos(0°)

= ℎ

Figure (2b)

= ⃗⃗⃗ . ∆ = .∆

ℎ
= ( ) ( ) cos 0°

= ℎ

Figure (2c). The following calculation corresponds to the work of the gravitational force along a trajectory.
curve

= ⃗⃗⃗ .∆ = . (∆ +∆ )

= .∆ + .∆

= ∆ ∅+ ∆

= ( − )cos 90° + ( − )cos 0°

W = mgh( - 0 cos
) 0°

= ℎ

In all three cases, the work done by gravitational force is the same despite the
the body has described different trajectories.
EXAMPLE

Figure 3 shows a 2.0 kg slippery block sliding along a track without

friction from point a to point b. The block travels a total distance of 2.0 m along
from the track and a net vertical distance of 0.80 m. How much work does the gravitational force do?
about the block during the sliding?

Figure 3.

Let's choose the dotted path in figure (3b); it consists of two line segments. Along the
horizontal segment, the angle θ is a constant of 90°. Although we do not know the
displacement along that horizontal segment, the Work Equation tells us that the
work ℎ what was done there is

ℎ= F∆rcos90° = 0

Along the vertical segment, the displacement Δr is 0.80 m and, with y∆ both down,
the angle is a constant of 0 °. Therefore for the work carried out along the part
vertical of the dotted path we have

= F∆rcos0° = m ∆rcos0°

9.81
= (2.0 k0)( 2
(
) 0.80m1))

= 15.7J

The total work done on the block as the block moves from point a to point b
along the discontinuous trajectory it is then
 = ℎ+

= 0 +15.7 J = 16J

This is also the work done when the block slides along the track from
hashtag.

POTENTIAL ENERGY AND CONSERVATIVE FORCES

Potential energy is the energy that a system has due to its position, shape, or configuration.
It is stored energy that is completely recoverable.

A conservative force is a force that depends only on position, resulting in

that the work done by the force depends only on the initial and final points of a movement
and not from the particular path taken.

The change in potential energy comes from the work done against a conservative force.
By changing this, the potential energy increases as a conservative force does work.
negative work. That is,

ΔU = −Wc,

where Wc is the work done by a conservative force.

NON-CONSERVATIVE FORCES

Not all forces are conservative; those forces that produce a change in energy.
mechanisms are known as non-conservative forces. A non-conservative force does not satisfy the
conditions of a conservative force. That is, a force is not conservative if the work that
it is done on an object that moves between two points depending on the trajectory of the movement
between the points.

The kinetic friction force is an example of a non-conservative force. When an object slides
on a surface and there is kinetic friction, the force of friction points in the opposite direction to
sliding movement and performs negative work. Between any two points, you
perform a greater amount of work on longer routes between the points, so that the
work depends on the choice of the path as shown in figure 4. Therefore, the force of
kinetic friction is not conservative.
 The work done in the movement of
the book is greater in trajectory A than in
trajectory B

Figure 4.

EXAMPLE

Calculate the work done by the frictional force in the situations represented in the
figure 5

Figure 5.

The work done by the frictional force to go from point A to point B (figure 5a)

→
= ⃗⃗⃗ .∆

→
= ∆ 180°

→
= − ∆
Now consider that the route from point A to B passes through C. Given that the
the magnitude of the displacement on each side is the same as in the case of figure a, the work
The force of friction will also be equal in each segment.

→
= +
→ →

→
= ∆ 180° + μmΔrcos180°

→
= − ∆ − ∆

→
= −2 ∆

In each of the cases, the work done by the frictional force is different.

Some conservative and non-conservative forces

Conservative forces:

• Gravitational force
• Elastic force of a spring
• Electric force

Non-conservative forces

• Static and kinetic friction forces

• Air resistance
• Tension
• Normal force
• Rocket propulsion force
MECHANICAL ENERGY

Mechanical energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its motion or due to its...
position. Mechanical energy can be kinetic energy (energy of motion) or energy
potential (stored energy of position). Objects have mechanical energy if they are in
movement and/or if they are in any position relative to a zero potential energy position (due to
example, a brick held in a vertical position on the ground or at a height position
zero).

Mechanical energy calculations

Calculating the mechanical energy of an object is simply finding the total kinetic energy.
and all forms of potential energy.

= +

Since gravitational potential energy is defined in relation to a reference point, the

Mechanical energy will also depend on that reference point.

As discussed earlier, there are two forms of potential energy discussed in our course:
gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy. Given this fact, the previous equation
it can be rewritten
= + +

EXAMPLE

A cannonball is fired from the surface of the Earth. At the top of its trajectory, it has
a horizontal speed of 160 m/s and is above the ground. With reference to the ground,
What is the mechanical energy of the cannonball at the highest point of its trajectory, if the mass
Is the cannonball 5.20 kg?
Data:

Em=?

At the top of its trajectory, the cannonball has kinetic energy due to its
horizontal movement and gravitational potential energy due to its height above the ground.

= +

1 2+
= ℎ
2

1 160m 2 9.81 3 )
(
= 5.20K( ) (
) + 5.20K( ) ) (1.20 × 10 m
2 2

= 6.656 ×104 + 6.121× 104

= 1.28 ×105