What does the law of conservation of energy state?

The law of conservation of energy states that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant over time, regardless of internal changes or processes occurring within the system. This means that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another, such as from potential energy to kinetic energy.

In an isolated system, any energy released in one part of the system will be balanced by energy gained in another part. This principle is foundational in thermodynamics and physics, as it asserts the consistency of energy in an isolated environment, allowing us to account for energy transfers and transformations accurately.

Understanding this concept is essential for analyzing various physical processes, such as mechanical work, heat transfer, and chemical reactions, as it helps predict how energy is conserved and transformed in different scenarios.