Conservative Forces

Definition

Conservative forces are forces that do not dissipate mechanical energy as they act on objects within a system. They conserve mechanical energy by transforming one form of mechanical energy into another without any loss.

Analogy

Imagine playing catch with a friend using a perfectly bouncy ball. No matter how many times you throw and catch it, the ball always returns with the same amount of kinetic and potential energies as before. It conserves its mechanical energies throughout each throw and catch.

Related terms

Non-conservative Forces: Forces that dissipate mechanical energy as they act on objects within a system, such as friction or air resistance.

Work: The transfer of energy that occurs when a force is applied to an object and it moves in the direction of the force.

Conservation of Energy: The principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed from one form to another.