Difference between revisions of "Conservative force"
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(New page: Conservative forces are those that possess certain properties<ref>Serway and Beichner, ''Physics for Scientists and Engineers'', Fifth Edition</ref>: 1. The work it does on ...) |
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Conservative [[force|forces]] are those that possess certain properties<ref>Serway and Beichner, ''Physics for Scientists and Engineers'', Fifth Edition</ref>: | Conservative [[force|forces]] are those that possess certain properties<ref>Serway and Beichner, ''Physics for Scientists and Engineers'', Fifth Edition</ref>: | ||
| − | 1. The [[work]] it does on a particle is independent of | + | 1. The [[work]] it does on a particle is independent of its [[trajectory]]. |
2. The work done on a particle that moves along a closed trajectory (where the initial and final positions are the same, or d<sub>i = d<sub>f</sub></sub>) = 0) is zero. | 2. The work done on a particle that moves along a closed trajectory (where the initial and final positions are the same, or d<sub>i = d<sub>f</sub></sub>) = 0) is zero. | ||
| − | When the only forces present in a system are conservative, [[mechanical energy]] is | + | When the only forces present in a system are conservative, [[mechanical energy]] is conserved. |
Examples of Conservative Forces: | Examples of Conservative Forces: | ||
Revision as of 02:55, October 19, 2007
Conservative forces are those that possess certain properties[1]:
1. The work it does on a particle is independent of its trajectory.
2. The work done on a particle that moves along a closed trajectory (where the initial and final positions are the same, or di = df) = 0) is zero.
When the only forces present in a system are conservative, mechanical energy is conserved.
Examples of Conservative Forces:
References
- ↑ Serway and Beichner, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Fifth Edition