# Is the electromagnetic force between circuits (whether closed or open) conservative?

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If we doesn't change the orientation of current elements, the electromagnetic force between them is only dependent on distance between them (inverse square law). Therefore just like electrostatics, the force between them must be conservative.

Now by superposition principle, the electromagnetic force between circuits (whether closed or open) should also be conservative. However, in Maxwell's treatise he says something like electromagnetic force between only closed circuits are conservative.

Is electromagnetic force between all types of circuits (whether closed or open) really conservative? Why/ Why not?

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