NEET 2011 Physics question

The potential energy of a system increases if work is done :

(1)upon the system by a nonconservative force
(2)by the system against a conservative force
(3)by the system against a nonconservative force
(4)upon the system by a conservative forceCorrect

Answer: (4)

Solution

Only conservative forces are associated with a potential energy, for which . Options (1) and (3) involve non-conservative forces (e.g. friction), which change the total mechanical energy through dissipation and do not define a potential energy, so they are eliminated. Of the two remaining options, the

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Question ID VK-090932