Physlet Illustration: Conservative and Non-Conservative Forces

 

 

Fx = 0  Fy=y Fx = x  Fy=y Fx = y  Fy=y*x Fx = x*x  Fy=y*y
Which of the above forces are conservative? Drag the object around using the mouse. The bar graph on the right displays the work done along the path you chose, and the table below shows the x and y coordinates and the net work done.

Reinitialize

Hints

  1. A force is considered conservative if the work done is path independent.
  2. A force is considered conservative if the total work done around a closed loop is zero.

Reference

See Walker, Section 8-1

Illustration written by Wolfgang Christian and modified by Chuck Niederriter