Consider the following statements-

1. Gravitational force is an example of a conservative force

2. Frictional force is an example of non-conservative force

Which of the following statement is CORRECT?

CONCEPT:

• Conservative force: A force is conservative if the work done by the force in displacing an object from one point to another point is independent of the path followed by the object and depends only on the endpoints.
• Electrostatic forces, gravitational forces, elastic forces, magnetic forces, etc and are the examples of a conservative force.

• Non-conservative forces: A force is said to be non-conservative if work done by or against the force in moving a body from one position to another, depends on the path followed between these two positions.
• Example:  Frictional force, Viscous force, Airdrag, etc.

EXPLANATION:

• If a body of mass m lifted to height h from the ground level by a different path, then the work done in each case will be the same. Therefore, in conservative force work done by the force in displacing an object from one point to another point is independent of path followed by the object and depends only on the endpoints.

• If a body is moved from position A to another position B on a rough table, work done against frictional force shall depend on the length of the path between A and B and not only on the position A and B. Therefore, in non-conservative force work done by or against the force in moving a body from one position to another, depends on the path followed between these two positions.