The statement “Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transferred from one form to another” is commonly called known as
A the Third Law of Thermodynamics
B the Fourth Law of Thermodynamics
C the First Law of Thermodynamics
D the Conservation of Matter Principle
E the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
F the Second Law of Thermodynamics
G the Fifth Law of Thermodynamics
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is C: the First Law of Thermodynamics.
The First Law of Thermodynamics, also known as the Law of Energy Conservation, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. This means that the total amount of energy in an isolated system remains constant over time. The energy can change forms, such as from kinetic to potential energy, or from chemical to thermal energy, but the total energy stays the same.
For example, when you burn fuel in a car engine, the chemical energy stored in the fuel is converted into heat and mechanical energy, which powers the car. The energy doesn’t just vanish—it transforms into different forms, but the total energy remains unchanged.
This law is foundational in physics because it helps explain a wide range of phenomena, from mechanical processes to chemical reactions. It is applicable in both closed systems, where no energy enters or leaves, and in open systems, where energy can flow in and out. The concept also underlies much of the technology we use, such as engines, refrigerators, and electrical circuits.
One important implication of the First Law is that energy conservation is crucial for understanding processes like heating and cooling, work done by machines, and even biological processes like metabolism. While energy can change forms, the total quantity remains constant, making the First Law an essential principle in both theoretical and practical physics.
Thus, the First Law helps us understand energy flow and conservation, which is critical in nearly every scientific discipline, from engineering to biology.