The concept of energy has been around for centuries, dating back to ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Egyptians. However, it wasn't until the 19th century that energy was formally defined and studied as a scientific concept.
The principle of conservation of energy was first proposed by German physicist Hermann von Helmholtz in the mid-19th century. It was later experimentally confirmed by various scientists through experiments such as the Joule's law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of energy in chemical reactions.
While energy itself cannot be created or destroyed, it can be converted from one form to another. For example, fossil fuels are a finite source of energy because they are converted into usable energy through combustion, which cannot be reversed. Once these resources are depleted, they cannot be replenished.
Yes, the principle of conservation of energy applies to all forms of energy, including kinetic, potential, thermal, and chemical energy. This means that no matter how energy is transferred or transformed, the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant.
Yes, the conservation of energy is a fundamental law of physics that applies to all systems, including the entire universe. This means that the total amount of energy in the universe is constant, and it cannot be created or destroyed.