The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. This fundamental principle is supported by a variety of experimental and observational evidence across different fields of science.
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence comes from mechanical systems. For instance, consider a pendulum swinging back and forth. At its highest points, the pendulum has maximum potential energy and minimal kinetic energy. As it swings down, potential energy converts into kinetic energy, reaching maximum kinetic energy at the lowest point of its path. Regardless of where the pendulum is, the total energy remains constant, illustrating energy transformation rather than creation or destruction.
In the realm of thermodynamics, numerous experiments demonstrate the conservation of energy in heat transfer systems. For example, in a closed system where heat is added, the increase in the system’s internal energy correlatively shows that the energy added has not vanished but has been converted to thermal energy, manifesting as increased temperature or phase changes.
Furthermore, in electrical circuits, the energy supplied by a battery is transformed into light energy in a bulb or mechanical energy in a motor. The total energy in the circuit remains consistent, confirming the principle.
In conclusion, the law of conservation of energy is supported by extensive experimental data across various scientific domains, highlighting that energy merely changes forms but is never lost or created in isolation.