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3 votes
1 answer
358 views

Conservative field vs conservative force

For a conservative field (e.g. electrostatic field) the circulation of the field (along a closed line) is zero. For a conservative force (e.g. macroscopic elastic force) the work performed on a ...
2 votes
1 answer
12k views

How to prove force is conservative?

How do I prove whether a force perpendicular to the motion is conservative and $\mathbf{F}=\mathbf{F_{0}}\sin(at)$ conservative, where $\mathbf{F_{0}}$ is a constant vector. I knew that for a force ...
1 vote
3 answers
9k views

Why can't we define a potential energy for a non-conservative force? [closed]

We could define potential energies for non-conservative forces too and then we could conserve it with kinetic and potential energy as we know it. But no one does that. Why is this? Please explain. Any ...
3 votes
1 answer
445 views

Confusion with curl of Lorentz magnetic force

Since the magnetic force is a no work force, $dW=\vec F\cdot d\vec r=0$ for $\vec F(\vec r)=q(\vec v(\vec r) \times \vec B(\vec r))$, therefore $\oint \vec F \cdot d\vec r=0$ by Stoke's theorem. ...