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Re: [Phys-L] "conservative force" --> misnomer --> misconception



It is very common to find people talking about conservative
and non-conservative forces in the same breath as conservation
of energy.

Don't they mean "conservation of mechanical energy"?

As another misuse of conservation, in elastic collisions, shouldn't people say "mechanical energy" instead of "kinetic energy" being conserved? The very name "elastic" makes one think of PE not KE.
--
Carl E Mungan, Assoc Prof of Physics 410-293-6680 (O) -3729 (F)
Naval Academy Stop 9c, 572C Holloway Rd, Annapolis MD 21402-1363
mailto:mungan@usna.edu http://usna.edu/Users/physics/mungan/