Question

Why frictional force is non conservative force?

Answer 1

Path dependency.

Explanation:

A nonconservative force is one in which the work done in moving an object/particle is dependent upon the path taken. A conservative force is path-independent, and depends only on the position of an object.

• Gravity is an example of a conservative force.

The force of friction, however, is path-dependent. For example, if we push an object `1"m"` across a rough surface, less energy will be lost as heat than if we push that same object `5"m"` across the same surface. The work done (energy lost in this case) is dependent on the path taken.