⚡ CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
PAGE 1 OF 5, ENERGY NEVER VANISHES
THE BIG RULE
ENERGY CAN CHANGE FORM, NOT DISAPPEAR
Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. The law of conservation of energy, also called the first law of thermodynamics, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It only transforms from one type into another. A boulder resting on a hill holds gravitational potential energy because of its height. Push it and that stored energy becomes kinetic energy of motion. When it crashes and rubs against the ground, kinetic energy turns into thermal energy: heat that warms the rock and soil. The total energy stays the same; only the labels change.
⚡ FIRST LAW
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted between forms. In a closed system, total energy stays constant.
CONSERVE!
STORED
🏔️ Potential energy from height
📐 PE ≈ mgh (mass × gravity × height)
⏸️ Stored until something moves it
📐 PE ≈ mgh (mass × gravity × height)
⏸️ Stored until something moves it
MOVING
🪨 Kinetic energy from speed
📐 KE = ½mv² (half mass × speed squared)
⬇️ Faster object, much more KE
📐 KE = ½mv² (half mass × speed squared)
⬇️ Faster object, much more KE