What principle does the law of conservation of energy illustrate?

What principle does the law of conservation of energy illustrate?

• A. Energy can be created from nothing
• B. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed
• C. Energy is always lost in motion
• D. Energy is unique to each object

Answer: (B)

The law of conservation of energy illustrates that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another. This principle is fundamental in physics and underpins many concepts across different areas of study, including mechanics, thermodynamics, and even electromagnetism. For instance, when a ball is thrown into the air, the kinetic energy it has while moving upward is gradually converted into gravitational potential energy as it rises. At its highest point, the kinetic energy is momentarily zero, but the total mechanical energy of the system, which is the sum of kinetic and potential energy, remains constant, provided there are no external forces acting on the system like air resistance. This principle helps explain a variety of physical phenomena, such as machines, where energy inputs are converted into useful work and heat. Understanding that energy can change forms but is conserved in an isolated system is critical in analyzing and solving many physics problems.

The law of conservation of energy illustrates that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another. This principle is fundamental in physics and underpins many concepts across different areas of study, including mechanics, thermodynamics, and even electromagnetism.

For instance, when a ball is thrown into the air, the kinetic energy it has while moving upward is gradually converted into gravitational potential energy as it rises. At its highest point, the kinetic energy is momentarily zero, but the total mechanical energy of the system, which is the sum of kinetic and potential energy, remains constant, provided there are no external forces acting on the system like air resistance.

This principle helps explain a variety of physical phenomena, such as machines, where energy inputs are converted into useful work and heat. Understanding that energy can change forms but is conserved in an isolated system is critical in analyzing and solving many physics problems.