We all are aware about the concept of force, if not then force may be defined as any push or pull that can change the state of rest of an object or can change the velocity of the moving object or can change the direction of the object. Forces can be classified into two types: conservative and non conservative forces. To understand the concept of these two, we also must be aware about the concept of work. The work is said to be done when a body actually moves a distance along the direction of the force. Now let us discuss the difference between the conservative and non conservative force:

Conservative forces: A force is said to be conservative if work done by the force or against the force to move an object through a certain distance depends only upon the initial and final positions of the body not on path followed by the object between initial and final positions.

For example: gravitational force, magnetic force between two magnetic poles, electrostatic force between two electric charges are examples of conservative forces.

Work done in moving an object through round trip or closed path is always zero.

Non conservative forces: A force is said to be non conservative force if work done by the force or against the force to move an object through a certain distance depends on the nature of the path not on the initial and final positions.

For example: frictional forces, induction force in a cyclotron.

These are the differences between the conservative and non conservative forces. If you know more examples, then please share with our readers.