Understanding the General Conservation Principle in Physics

In summary: And if we want to unify all the conservation laws, we need to find a more general symmetry that encompasses both Poincare symmetry and gauge invariance.In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of conservation laws and their relationship to the Navier-Stokes equations and the KCL. The idea of a general conservation that implies all other particular conservations is explored, with the conclusion that the conservation of the amount of substance may be the key to unifying all conservation laws. The conversation also touches on the role of symmetries in generating conservation laws, with Poincare symmetry being responsible for the conservation of energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum, while gauge invariance plays a role in the conservation of charge. The search for a
  • #1
Jhenrique
685
4
The navier stokes equations are based in 4 presuppositions, the conservation of mass, of energy, of linear momentum and of angular momentum. Also, the KCL too is based in other conservation, the of charge. So I thought: must there is a general conservation that implies all the other particular conservations... this general conservation must be the conservation of the amount of substance (or, in terms more generals, the conservation of every particle that is possible to quantify).
If the amount of substance is conserved, so this implies that the charge and the mass too is, if the mass is conserved so the energy too is, if the energy is conserved so the momentum too is.

What you think about?
 
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  • #2
If you want to unify the conservation laws it is probably better to think in terms of the symmetries that generate the conservation laws. Energy and linear momentum are conserved due to spatial and temporal translation symmetries, and angular momentum is conserved due to rotational symmetries. So all of those conserved quantities are due to Poincare symmetry. Mass conservation isn't a separate thing from energy and momentum conservation, so you can add that to the list.

Charge, on the other hand, is conserved due to gauge invariance, so that seems to be a separate symmetry.
 

1. What is the General Conservation Principle in Physics?

The General Conservation Principle in Physics states that certain physical quantities, such as energy, momentum, and mass, remain constant in a closed system over time. This means that these quantities cannot be created or destroyed, but can only be transferred or transformed from one form to another.

2. How does the General Conservation Principle apply to everyday life?

The General Conservation Principle applies to many aspects of daily life. For example, the conservation of energy can be seen when a ball rolls down a hill and its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. The conservation of momentum can be observed when a person jumps off a diving board and their momentum carries them through the air. The conservation of mass is evident in chemical reactions, where the total mass of the reactants is equal to the total mass of the products.

3. Are there any exceptions to the General Conservation Principle?

While the General Conservation Principle is a fundamental law in physics, there are some situations where it may not hold true. For example, in very small scales and high energies, the principles of quantum mechanics and relativity come into play, which can lead to the creation or destruction of particles. In addition, certain physical processes, such as radioactive decay, violate the conservation of certain quantities like charge and lepton numbers.

4. How does the General Conservation Principle relate to the laws of thermodynamics?

The General Conservation Principle is closely related to the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The first law, also known as the law of conservation of energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can only be transferred or converted from one form to another. The second law, which is based on the principle of entropy, states that the total entropy of a closed system will always increase over time, indicating a tendency towards disorder and the dissipation of energy.

5. How does the General Conservation Principle impact the study of physics?

The General Conservation Principle is a fundamental concept in physics and is essential in understanding and predicting the behavior of physical systems. It allows scientists to make accurate calculations and observations in a wide range of areas, such as mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism. It also serves as a basis for many other laws and principles in physics, making it a crucial component of the field.

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