Laws of Conservation of Energy

In summary, according to the Law of Conservation of Energy, energy cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system. However, in certain cases such as a singularity, where the laws of physics do not apply, matter may be created or destroyed. Therefore, it is important to consider the boundary conditions of the universe when discussing the origin of energy.
  • #1
Ralph Spencer
21
0
(Please make it a bit easy for a newbie student)
Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. Then how did it ever come into being?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
Energy is never created. It is constantly transferred through the breakdown or creation of matter.

Or atleast that's what i'd gathered from studying. Don't quote me on it - correct me if I'm wrong.
 
  • #3
Ralph Spencer said:
(Please make it a bit easy for a newbie student)
Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. Then how did it ever come into being?

Thanks


So energy exists as ever, it is not created at least according to the Law of Conservation of Energy. We may need another Law to understand how it come into being.
 
  • #4
In a place where the curvature in space-time is infinite or near infinite the laws of physics break down and do not apply. This is called a singularity, it occurs in black holes and of course, the Big Bang Singularity which created most of the matter in the Universe. The aforementioned first law of thermodynamics does not hold inside a singularity and matter may be created or destroyed, as was demonstrated by the Big Bang.
 
  • #5
Ralph Spencer said:
(Please make it a bit easy for a newbie student)
Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. Then how did it ever come into being?

Thanks

That statement needs to be slightly amended to "Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed *in a closed system*". The correct way to ask your question is then "is the universe a closed system" or equivalently, "what are the boundary conditions on the universe"?

What is north of the north pole?
 

What is the Law of Conservation of Energy?

The Law of Conservation of Energy is a fundamental principle in physics that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can only be transformed from one form to another.

How does the Law of Conservation of Energy apply to everyday life?

The Law of Conservation of Energy applies to everyday life in many ways. For example, when you turn on a light switch, electrical energy is transformed into light energy. When you ride a bicycle, your body's chemical energy is transformed into mechanical energy. In all of these situations, the total amount of energy remains constant.

What are some examples of energy transformations?

Some examples of energy transformations include:

  • Chemical energy to heat energy when burning wood in a fire
  • Electrical energy to light energy in a light bulb
  • Nuclear energy to electrical energy in a nuclear power plant
  • Mechanical energy to sound energy when playing a musical instrument

What is the relationship between energy and mass?

According to Einstein's famous equation E=mc^2, mass and energy are interchangeable. This means that energy can be converted into mass, and vice versa. This relationship is important in understanding nuclear reactions and the concept of nuclear energy.

How does the Law of Conservation of Energy relate to the First Law of Thermodynamics?

The Law of Conservation of Energy and the First Law of Thermodynamics are essentially the same principle. The First Law of Thermodynamics states that the total energy of a closed system remains constant, while the Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. Both laws emphasize the concept of energy being conserved in a system.

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