A nonconservative force is one for which work depends on the path. Friction is an example of a nonconservative force that changes mechanical energy into thermal energy. Work Wnc done by a nonco...A nonconservative force is one for which work depends on the path. Friction is an example of a nonconservative force that changes mechanical energy into thermal energy. Work Wnc done by a nonconservative force changes the mechanical energy of a system. In equation form, Wnc=ΔKE+ΔPE or, equivalently, KEi+PEi+Wnc=KEf+PEf. When both conservative and nonconservative forces act, energy conservation can be applied and used to calculate motion in terms
