Conservative Forces: Friction a Non-Conservative Force?

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SUMMARY

Friction is classified as a non-conservative force due to its nature of converting energy into heat through random thermal motion, despite being rooted in conservative electromagnetic interactions at the atomic level. The macroscopic treatment of friction relies on statistical approximations, which complicate the understanding of its fundamental interactions. The coefficient of friction effectively models this force, yet it remains non-conservative because it does not account for energy distribution across multiple degrees of freedom.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of conservative and non-conservative forces
  • Basic knowledge of electromagnetic interactions
  • Familiarity with statistical mechanics
  • Concept of energy conservation and heat transfer
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the principles of conservative forces in classical mechanics
  • Study the role of statistical mechanics in thermodynamics
  • Investigate the coefficient of friction and its applications in engineering
  • Learn about energy distribution in non-conservative systems
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, engineers, and researchers interested in the dynamics of forces and energy transfer, particularly in the context of friction and thermodynamics.

SandeshPhy
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Why is friction a non-conservative force ?
It arises to Electric interactions which is a conservative force(field).
 
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Yes, friction is due to electromagnetic interactions at the atomic level, which are conservative. However, it is difficult, if not impossible to consider the individual interactions of the atoms. Hence the concept of "friction" on a macroscopic level based on statistical approximation. It is this treatment that causes frictional force to be nonconservative.
 
But even then how can statistics change the nature of force,how can it change something that is the way of working of force.
 
It is simply nonconservative due to the fact that it is not accounted for - in all. We know that the coefficient of friction concept models the reality of this force decently, but in consequence, it is nonconservative.
 
how can statistics change the nature of force
Statistics exactly IS the difference between conservative and nonconservative. A nonconservative force by definition is one that degenerates energy into heat, i.e. random thermal motion. Energy is conserved, but it becomes distributed over a great many degrees of freedom.
 

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