Question map
Which one of the following forces is non-central and non-conservative?
Explanation
A conservative force is one where the work done is independent of the path taken, such as gravitational and electric forces [4]. Central forces are those directed toward or away from a fixed point and depend only on the distance from that point. Gravitational and electric (Coulomb) forces are both central and conservative [3]. In contrast, frictional force is a non-conservative force because the work done against it depends on the path taken and energy is dissipated as heat rather than being stored as potential energy. Furthermore, friction is a non-central force as it acts tangentially to the surfaces in contact to oppose relative motion, rather than acting along a radial line toward a central point. Mechanical force is a broad category that can include both conservative (spring) and non-conservative (friction) components [1].
Sources
- [1] http://bepclots.bihar.gov.in/ptyrdimu/2021/04/12-Physics-Ncert-Chapter-2.pdf