The work-kinetic energy theorem asserts that the mechanical work done by a net force is equal to the change in kinetic energy of an object. In scenarios involving both conservative and nonconservative forces, the net force is determined by the vector sum of these forces. For conservative forces, the relationship between kinetic energy change (ΔKE) and potential energy change (ΔPE) is defined as ΔKE = -ΔPE. Nonconservative forces, however, only affect kinetic energy and do not contribute to potential energy changes, emphasizing that work done by nonconservative forces is not associated with potential energy.
PREREQUISITESPhysics students, educators, and professionals in engineering or mechanics who seek to deepen their understanding of energy transformations and force interactions in physical systems.
A zero force does count (trivially) as conservative.fog37 said:OK, the pucks on the air table...mechanical energy is conserved while it is not for the blocks with friction...
So, it IS important for the internal forces to be conservative for ME to be conserved!
Therefore, for ME to be conserved, two conditions must be satisfied:
a) The internal force pairs must be conservative
b) The net external force is either zero or conservative
Isn't that simply all forces then?fog37 said:Therefore, for ME to be conserved, two conditions must be satisfied:
a) The internal force pairs must be conservative
b) The net external force is either zero or conservative