what does the law of conservation of energy state

14 years later

matter and energy cannot be created nor destroyed?

Total energy is conserved (which means it cannot be created or destroyed), but it can be converted from one form to another.

There are other statements of the law that allow for energy to be added to or lost from a particular volume of space, and tfor the addition or performance of work. Some apply to steady state flow situations.

My first statement should suffice.

Mass is a form of energy, and it can be converted to energy using the Einstein formula E = m c^2.

The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. In other words, the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant over time. Energy can only change its form or be transferred from one object to another.

To understand the law of conservation of energy, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the system: Determine the boundaries of the system you are considering. It could be an object, a group of objects, or even the entire universe.

2. Identify the types of energy: Recognize the various forms of energy present within the system. These can include kinetic energy (energy of motion), potential energy (stored energy), thermal energy (heat), electrical energy, chemical energy, etc.

3. Track energy changes: Observe how energy is transferred or transformed within the system. Pay attention to any energy inputs, outputs, or conversions.

4. Calculate the total energy: Sum up the energy of all the different types within the system. If the system is isolated and no external forces are acting on it, then the total energy should remain constant over time.

By following these steps, you can understand and apply the law of conservation of energy to analyze different physical systems.