Conservation of Energy

Summary

• When objects interact…
  • energy can change form (energy transduction)
  • energy can be transferred (energy transfer)
• The law of conservation of energy (often shortened to conservation of energy or energy conservation) can be stated in several equivalent ways.
  • A decrease in one form of energy will result in an increase in another form of energy of equal magnitude.

    ∆E₁ = −∆E₂

  • The total energy of a closed system is a constant.

    ∑E = ∑E₀ = constant

  • Energy can neither be created nor destroyed.
• The law of conservation of energy has some advantages in solving certain problems.
  • It does not care about the mechanism or cause of the energy transformation or transfer.
  • It does not care about the time it takes for energy to change form or location.