Conservation of Energy Part 5: Mechanical Energy and Conservative and non Conservative forces

The video tutorial revisits previous concepts and introduces new ones, such as work done by conservative and non-conservative forces, and mechanical energy. It explains the relationship between work and kinetic energy, and how work done by gravity and springs are examples of conservative forces. Non-conservative forces like friction are also discussed. The video ties these concepts together by showing how total work is the sum of work done by both conservative and non-conservative forces. It concludes with the principle of mechanical energy conservation, emphasizing that mechanical energy remains constant if non-conservative forces do no work.

What is the significance of the equation relating kinetic energy and potential energy to work done?

How can we express the change in mechanical energy in terms of work done by non-conservative forces?

What happens to mechanical energy in the absence of non-conservative forces?

Provide an example of a system where mechanical energy is conserved.