6.3 Conservative and Non-conservative Forces
2 min read•july 24, 2024
Forces shape our physical world, determining how objects move and interact. This section explores conservative and non-conservative forces, highlighting their key differences and impacts on energy in systems.
We'll dive into , a crucial concept linked to conservative forces. Understanding these principles is vital for grasping energy conservation and work in various scenarios, from simple gravity to complex mechanical systems.
Types of Forces and Energy
Conservative vs non-conservative forces
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- Conservative forces work done independent of path taken enables potential energy definition and reversible work performed (, , )
- Non-conservative forces work done depends on path taken prevents potential energy definition and causes irreversible work (, , )
Potential energy and conservative forces
- Potential energy stored in system due to position or configuration only defined for conservative forces represented by U or PE
- Work done by conservative force equals negative change in potential energy
- Force derived from potential energy
- Types include and
Energy Conservation and Work
Conservation of mechanical energy
- Total mechanical energy remains constant in closed system with only conservative forces
- [KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f](https://www.fiveableKeyTerm:ke_i_+_pe_i_=_ke_f_+_pe_f)
- Problem-solving steps:
- Identify initial and final states
- Calculate initial and final kinetic and potential energies
- Apply conservation of energy equation
- Solve for unknown variables
Non-conservative forces and energy
- Mechanical energy not conserved when non-conservative forces present typically dissipating energy as heat or sound
- change in kinetic energy equals total work done on system
- Non-conservative forces generally decrease mechanical energy of system (friction converts kinetic energy into thermal energy)
Work of forces in scenarios
- Conservative forces work path-independent calculated using change in potential energy
- Gravity work [W_g = -mg(h_f - h_i)](https://www.fiveableKeyTerm:w_g_=_-mg(h_f_-_h_i))
- Spring work
- Non-conservative forces work path-dependent calculated directly using force and displacement
- Constant friction force work [W_f = f_k d](https://www.fiveableKeyTerm:w_f_=_f_k_d)
- Air resistance work requires knowledge of force as function of velocity
Key Terms to Review (22)
Air resistance: Air resistance is a type of frictional force that opposes the motion of an object moving through air. It becomes significant when an object moves at high speeds or has a large surface area, impacting its acceleration and velocity. Understanding air resistance is crucial for analyzing the motion of falling objects, projectiles, and energy transformations in systems.
Conservation of mechanical energy: Conservation of mechanical energy states that in a closed system where only conservative forces act, the total mechanical energy (the sum of kinetic and potential energy) remains constant. This principle highlights the interchange between kinetic and potential energy without any loss to non-conservative forces such as friction or air resistance.
Dissipative forces: Dissipative forces are non-conservative forces that cause energy to be transformed from one form to another, often leading to a loss of mechanical energy in a system. These forces, such as friction and air resistance, work against the motion of objects and convert kinetic energy into thermal energy or other forms, resulting in energy dissipation. Unlike conservative forces, which conserve mechanical energy, dissipative forces play a crucial role in real-world applications where energy is not perfectly conserved.
E_initial = e_final: The equation e_initial = e_final represents the principle of conservation of energy, stating that the total energy of a closed system remains constant over time. This means that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. In contexts where only conservative forces are acting, the initial mechanical energy of the system will equal its final mechanical energy, highlighting the relationship between kinetic energy, potential energy, and work done.
Elastic force: Elastic force is the restoring force exerted by a material when it is deformed, attempting to return to its original shape. This force is a key feature of elastic materials and can be observed in various contexts, including springs and rubber bands. The relationship between elastic force and deformation is described by Hooke's Law, which states that the force is directly proportional to the amount of stretch or compression, as long as the elastic limit is not exceeded.
Elastic potential energy: Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in an elastic object when it is stretched or compressed. This energy can be released when the object returns to its original shape, making it crucial in understanding the behavior of materials that deform under stress. It connects directly to how forces interact within a system and helps explain the principles of conservation and transformation of energy.
Electrostatic Force: Electrostatic force is the attractive or repulsive force between charged objects, described by Coulomb's Law. This force arises due to the interaction of electric charges, with like charges repelling each other and opposite charges attracting. Electrostatic force is a fundamental concept in understanding electric fields and potential energy within a system of charged particles.
Energy Loss: Energy loss refers to the reduction of mechanical energy in a system, often due to non-conservative forces such as friction or air resistance, which transform kinetic or potential energy into other forms of energy, like thermal energy. This phenomenon plays a crucial role in understanding how systems behave when subjected to forces that do not store energy, affecting both the efficiency of processes and the analysis of collisions.
F = -du/dx: The equation f = -du/dx describes the relationship between force (f) and potential energy (u) in a system, indicating that the force is equal to the negative gradient of potential energy with respect to position (x). This highlights that conservative forces, such as gravitational and spring forces, can be derived from potential energy functions, meaning that the work done by these forces is path-independent. Understanding this equation is essential to differentiate between conservative and non-conservative forces, which have distinct characteristics in how they perform work in physical systems.
Friction: Friction is the force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of such motion of two surfaces in contact. It plays a crucial role in various physical interactions, affecting how objects move, the energy they possess, and their ability to maintain equilibrium. Understanding friction is essential for analyzing forces, energy transformations, and stability in physical systems.
Gravitational force: Gravitational force is the attractive force that acts between any two masses in the universe, proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. This fundamental force governs how objects interact with each other, influencing motion, energy, and stability in various systems.
Gravitational potential energy: Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position in a gravitational field, commonly related to its height above a reference point. This energy can be transformed into kinetic energy as the object moves under the influence of gravity. Understanding this concept is crucial when analyzing motion, energy transfers, and the forces acting on objects in various scenarios.
Ke_i + pe_i = ke_f + pe_f: This equation represents the principle of conservation of mechanical energy, stating that the total mechanical energy (kinetic energy plus potential energy) of an object remains constant if only conservative forces are acting on it. This means that the sum of an object's initial kinetic energy ($$ke_i$$) and initial potential energy ($$pe_i$$) will equal the sum of its final kinetic energy ($$ke_f$$) and final potential energy ($$pe_f$$), demonstrating how energy transforms between these forms while remaining conserved.
Potential Energy: Potential energy is the stored energy in an object due to its position or configuration, which can be converted into kinetic energy when the object is in motion. It plays a critical role in understanding how energy is conserved and transformed in physical systems, particularly when analyzing forces acting on an object and its movement through space.
Tension in moving rope: Tension in a moving rope refers to the force transmitted through the rope when it is subjected to pull, causing it to stretch and transmit the force along its length. This tension is a critical concept in understanding how forces act in a dynamic system, especially when analyzing the motion of objects connected by ropes or cables. The presence of tension is influenced by factors such as the mass of the objects being pulled, acceleration, and external forces acting on the system.
W_f = f_k d: The equation $w_f = f_k d$ describes the work done by a non-conservative force, specifically kinetic friction, over a distance 'd'. In this equation, $w_f$ represents the work done, $f_k$ is the magnitude of the kinetic frictional force, and 'd' is the displacement along which the force acts. This relationship highlights how energy can be transferred or transformed when objects move through a medium where friction opposes their motion.
W_g = -mg(h_f - h_i): The equation $$w_g = -mg(h_f - h_i)$$ represents the work done by gravitational force when an object moves vertically between two heights. Here, $$w_g$$ is the work done by gravity, $$m$$ is the mass of the object, $$g$$ is the acceleration due to gravity, $$h_f$$ is the final height, and $$h_i$$ is the initial height. This equation highlights that work done by gravity depends on the change in height and emphasizes how gravitational force is a conservative force, meaning it depends only on the initial and final positions of the object, not the path taken.
W_nc = ∫f · ds: The expression w_nc = ∫f · ds represents the work done by non-conservative forces on an object as it moves along a path. This integral signifies how the force vector, 'f', interacts with the displacement vector, 'ds', to produce work. In contexts involving forces, understanding this relationship is essential in distinguishing between conservative and non-conservative forces, as non-conservative forces, like friction or air resistance, depend on the specific path taken rather than just initial and final positions.
W_s = -1/2k(x_f^2 - x_i^2): This equation represents the work done by a spring when it is compressed or stretched from an initial position, denoted as x_i, to a final position, x_f. The term w_s indicates that the work done by the spring is negative when the spring is compressed and positive when it is stretched, which reflects the spring's tendency to restore itself to its equilibrium position. This relationship is central to understanding conservative forces, as it demonstrates how potential energy stored in the spring can be converted to kinetic energy during motion.
Work = -δu: The equation 'work = -δu' defines the relationship between work done by a force and the change in potential energy in a system. This means that the work done by conservative forces on an object results in a decrease in its potential energy, highlighting how energy is transferred or transformed within a system. Understanding this relationship is crucial in distinguishing between conservative and non-conservative forces, as it emphasizes that energy can be conserved in systems where only conservative forces are acting.
Work_c = -δu: The equation work_c = -δu defines the work done by conservative forces in relation to the change in potential energy, where 'work_c' represents the work done by a conservative force and 'δu' represents the change in potential energy. This relationship highlights how conservative forces, like gravity and spring forces, store energy as potential energy that can be converted back into kinetic energy. This equation emphasizes the principle of conservation of mechanical energy, indicating that the total mechanical energy remains constant in a closed system when only conservative forces are doing work.
Work-energy theorem: The work-energy theorem states that the work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy. This principle connects the forces acting on an object to its motion, highlighting how energy transfer occurs through work. It also lays the groundwork for understanding the roles of both conservative and non-conservative forces in energy systems, as well as the relationship between gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy during motion.