Conservative and Non-conservative Force 

Definition of conservative force

A conservative force is the one in which the work done between two objects is conserved despite the starting point and finish point. Simply meaning that force where the initial and final point matters and not the path that is taken that means it is path independent.

Based on the law of conservation of energy – Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed it can only be transferred from one form to another form. This is followed by conservative forces. So conservative forces conserve energy, mechanical energy.

Non conservative forces

These are those forces that dissipate energy in different forms while doing work.

Like if we take Frictional force then it dissipates energy in the form of heat, sound etc. Similarly, in the case of air resistance. They depend on the path taken by the body and the work done in the closed path is not zero.

Stored energy in case of conservative forces

The conservative forces as the name says conserves energy but where does that energy go? It is called potential energy not because of the height factor that we generally consider for potential energy but because that energy can be utilized to do Work that is it has potential to do more work and hence the name potential energy.

Also, the work done by the body in travelling between the two objects can also be expressed in terms of the stored potential energy at the two given points. The difference between the stored potential energies at the two points of consideration is actually equal to the work done by the body.

Relationship between force and potential energy stored is that as the force does some positive work the energy that is stored is utilised and hence it decreases and they have an inverse relation. Positive work done – Stored potential energy decreases.

This happens only in the case of Conservative forces and no such relation is there for non-conservative forces.

Major key differences between conservative and non-conservative force 

• The core difference is that work done by conservative force in a closed path is zero while in case of non-conservative force it’s not zero.
• Conservative force doesn’t depend on the path taken while in case of non-conservative force the work done depends on the path taken by the body.
• Conservative forces take into account the two points between which the work is to be done while the non -conservative force take into account the path between the two points which is to be travelled.
• Though we consider that total energy is conserved as part of the law of conservation of energy but it is not true as in the case of non-conservative forces some energy is lost in the firm of heat and energy but in. Case of conservative forces we still consider that the energy is conserved and is a constant.
• In case of conservative forces like the gravitational force or electrostatic force the work done is totally recoverable while in case of non-conservative forces like the frictional force the work done is not fully recoverable.
• In case of conservative forces there is a relation between force gradient and potential energy that is Negative gradient of energy that too potential in nature is equal to force while there is no such relation between force and potential energy in case of non-conservative forces like the friction.
• Conservative forces are non-dissipative forces while the conservative forces are dissipative forces.
• Conservative forces follow the law of conservation of energy while non-conservative forces don’t follow the law of conservation of energy.

Some examples of conservative and non-conservative forces 

Conservative forces are electrostatic forces, magnetic forces, gravitational force and so on while non -conservative forces include Air resistance, Viscous force and Frictional force as some of the examples.

Conclusion 

Conservative force is the one which conserves mechanical energy; it is the force that depends only on the initial and final point and not on the path and hence work done by such a force in a closed path comes out to be zero. Some of the examples of conservative forces are gravitational force and electrostatic force.