Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Conservation of energy states that the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant over time. Energy can be transferred or transformed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.
Related terms
Kinetic Energy: Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. It depends on both mass and velocity.
Potential energy refers to stored energy that an object possesses based on its position or condition. Examples include gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy.
The work-energy theorem states that the work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy. It relates forces acting on an object to changes in its motion and energy.