Question Detail
Question
A force is nonconservative if the work it does on an object depends on which of the following?
Correct Answer
Option C is the correct answer.
Detailed Explanation
The defining characteristic of a nonconservative force, such as friction or air resistance, is that the work it does depends on the path taken. For different paths between the same two points, the work done by a nonconservative force can be different, and energy is often dissipated (e.g., as heat).
Hint
Unlike gravity, which does the same work regardless of path, friction does more work on a longer path.