Consider dragging a box across a flat horizontal surface with friction at a constant, steady velocity. Is the mechanical energy of the box conserved?

  1. Yes--there are no nonconservative forces present.
  2. Yes--nonconservative forces are present but do no work.
  3. Yes--nonconservative forces are present and do work, but the work done by some exactly cancels the work done by others.
  4. No, mechanical energy is not conserved.

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