{\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\vec {\text{ F }}}}
is the force, F is a vector valued force function, F is a scalar valued force function, r is the position vector, ||r|| is its length, and
r
^
{\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\hat {\mathbf {r} }}}
= r/||r|| is the corresponding unit vector.
Not all central force fields are conservative or spherically symmetric. However, a central force is conservative if and only if it is spherically symmetric or rotationally invariant.