Which best describes energy changes in a system?
a
Energy is not conserved, and it can be created or destroyed.
b
Energy is not conserved, but it cannot be created or destroyed.
c
Energy is conserved, but it can be created or destroyed.
d
Energy is conserved, and it cannot be created or destroyed.
d. Energy is conserved, and it cannot be created or destroyed. This is known as the Law of Conservation of Energy, which states that energy can be transferred or transformed from one form to another, but the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant.
The best answer that describes energy changes in a system is d) Energy is conserved, and it cannot be created or destroyed.
To understand why energy is conserved and cannot be created or destroyed, we can look at the law of conservation of energy. This law states that the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant over time. Energy can change forms or be transferred from one object to another, but the total amount always stays the same.
For example, consider a roller coaster going down a hill. As the roller coaster moves, its potential energy (due to its height) is converted into kinetic energy (due to its motion). At the bottom of the hill, the kinetic energy is at its maximum, and the potential energy is at its minimum. However, the total energy of the system (potential energy + kinetic energy) remains constant throughout the ride.
This principle holds true for all systems. Energy can be converted between different forms, such as thermal energy, electrical energy, or chemical energy, but the total energy within a closed system remains constant.
d
Energy is conserved, and it cannot be created or destroyed.