Consider dragging a box across a flat horizontal surface with
friction at a constant, steady velocity.
Is the mechanical energy of the box conserved?
- Yes--there are no nonconservative forces present.
- Yes--nonconservative forces are present but do no work.
- Yes--nonconservative forces are present and do work,
but the work done by some exactly cancels the work done by
others.
- No, mechanical energy is not conserved.