Conservation of Energy in Collisions

This lecture covers the concepts of non-conservative forces, conservative forces, and the principles of energy conservation in collisions. It discusses examples of frictional forces affecting mechanical energy and the distinction between elastic and inelastic collisions. The center of mass is defined and its relevance in collision scenarios is explained. The lecture also delves into the properties of conservative forces, emphasizing the independence of work on the path taken and the concept of potential energy. Various examples and calculations illustrate the application of these principles in different collision scenarios.