Conservative system

(Mech.)

a material system of such a nature that after the system has undergone any series of changes, and been brought back in any manner to its original state, the whole work done by external agents on the system is equal to the whole work done by the system overcoming external forces.

Conservative System

conservative system

[kən′sər·vəd·iv ′sis·təm] (physics) A system in which there is no dissipation of energy so that the total energy remains constant with time.

Conservative System

a mechanical system in which the law of conservation of mechanical energy is valid—that is, the sum of the kinetic energy T and the potential energy P of the system is constant: T + P = const.

An example of a conservative system is the solar system. Under conditions that exist on earth, where the presence of forces of resistance such as friction and drag, which lead to a loss of mechanical energy and its conversion to other forms of energy (for example, heat), is unavoidable, only a rough approximation of a conservative system is possible. For example, a swinging pendulum may be considered a conservative system if friction in the suspension axis and air resistance are disregarded.