Re: Non-conservative forces

[Bob LaMontagne <rlamont@POSTOFFICE.PROVIDENCE.EDU>]

"John S. Denker" wrote:.

> 2) I don't see how static friction can be a force FIELD
> so therefore the question of whether it is derived
> from a potential is unaskable.  I don't see how the
> work can be a function of path (or the opposite) if
> there are no paths (because things are static).

****Snip****

> 4) To enlarge the discussion, consider Coriolis
> forces.  They are a function of velocity, not a
> function of position.  They are manifestly not
> the gradient of any potential.  But they contribute
> zero work to the particle, regardless of path, so
> their work is path-independent.  I consider them
> conservative for this reason.

Just a thought - place a crate on the back of a flatbed truck - then drive
it around the block a few times and park it in the original location. Net
work is zero and is path independent. Static doesn't necessarily exclude
motion.

Bob at PC