What principle does the conservation of energy highlight?

The conservation of energy principle emphasizes that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change from one form to another. This means that within a closed system, the total energy remains constant over time, even as it may change forms, such as from potential energy to kinetic energy or thermal energy.

For example, when you lift a heavy object, you are converting chemical energy from your muscles into gravitational potential energy. If the object is then allowed to fall, that potential energy is transformed back into kinetic energy as it descends. Throughout these processes, the total amount of energy in the system remains unchanged, illustrating the fundamental concept of energy conservation.

This principle is foundational in physics and applies to all physical systems, ensuring that while energy may be transferred and transformed, the overall energy within a closed system is conserved.