Identify the non-conservative force in the following

Options

A. Weight of a body
B. Force between two ions
C. Magnetic force
D. Air resistance

Answer

To identify the non-conservative forces from the given options, we need to understand the characteristics of conservative and non-conservative forces.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Conservative Forces**:
- Conservative forces are those for which the work done does not depend on the path taken, but only on the initial and final positions. Examples include gravitational force and electrostatic force.

2. **Understanding Non-Conservative Forces**:
- Non-conservative forces are those for which the work done depends on the path taken. This means the work done can vary based on how the object is moved from one point to another. An example of a non-conservative force is friction or air resistance.

3. **Identifying the Forces**:
- In the context of the question, we need to identify which of the mentioned forces is non-conservative.
- The weight of the body (gravitational force) is conservative because it only depends on the height change (mgh).
- The electrostatic force is also conservative as it depends only on the initial and final positions of the charges.
- Magnetic force can be conservative under certain conditions, but in general, it is considered conservative unless specified otherwise (like in the case of time-varying fields).
- Air resistance, however, is a non-conservative force because it depends on the distance traveled and the path taken by the object.

4. **Conclusion**:
- The most appropriate answer for the non-conservative force among the options provided is **air resistance**.