Conservative and non-conservative systems

[mpkannan]

Homework Statement

The potential energy (V) of a conservative system is a function of position (q) only. Thus, V = V(q) for any conservative system.

When a conservative system interacts with radiation (spectroscopy), then the PE of the system depends explicitly on time (t) also: V = V(q,t).

Is the latter system a non-conservative system? Is V = V(q,t) characteristic of a non-conservative system, just like V = V(q) is characteristic of a conservative system?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[genericusrnme]

Do you know what a hamiltonian is and what the hamiltonian equations of motion are?