The Law of Conservation of Energy states that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it can change from one form to another. In simpler terms, the total amount of energy in the universe stays the same; it just transforms. When solving problems, we often equate the initial total energy of a system to its final total energy, accounting for different forms like kinetic energy, potential energy, and work done by non-conservative forces such as friction.
When applying the principle, it's crucial to identify all the forces at play and the types of energy involved. For instance, a falling object converts potential energy into kinetic energy, while a car braking converts kinetic energy into thermal energy due to friction. Understanding these transformations is key to solving conservation of energy problems. Remember to account for any energy losses due to friction or air resistance, which are often present in real-world scenarios.
Match the terms with their definitions:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. Kinetic Energy | A. Energy stored in an object due to its position. |
| 2. Potential Energy | B. Energy of motion. |
| 3. Conservation of Energy | C. The total energy of an isolated system remains constant. |
| 4. Work | D. Energy transferred to or from an object by means of a force acting on the object. |
| 5. Thermal Energy | E. The energy an object has due to the motion of its atoms or molecules. |
Match the correct term with its definition.
Complete the following paragraph using the words provided: constant, transformed, potential, kinetic, isolated.
The law of conservation of energy states that in an ______ system, the total energy remains ______. Energy can be ______ from one form to another, such as ______ energy converting into ______ energy as an object falls.
Explain, in your own words, how the principle of conservation of energy applies to a roller coaster. Be sure to discuss what happens to the energy at different points along the ride. 🎢
Please log in to post your answer.
Log InEarn 2 Points for answering. If your answer is selected as the best, you'll get +20 Points! 🚀