In a conservative system, the total mechanical energy (kinetic and potential) of the system remains constant over time. In a non-conservative system, energy can be lost due to external forces, such as friction or air resistance.
A system is considered conservative if the work done by external forces is zero, meaning that energy is conserved. If work is being done by external forces, the system is considered non-conservative.
An example of a conservative system is a pendulum swinging back and forth, where the total mechanical energy (kinetic and potential) remains constant. An example of a non-conservative system is a car moving on a road, where energy is lost due to friction and air resistance.
No, a non-conservative system cannot become conservative. Energy can only be conserved in a closed system where no external forces are acting.
Understanding conservative and non-conservative systems allows us to predict the behavior of a system and how energy is conserved or lost. This can be applied to various fields such as physics, engineering, and environmental sciences.