Violation of conservation of energy?

In summary, the law of conservation of energy only applies to closed systems, where no energy can cross the system boundary. If the system includes an external power source, such as a human compressing a spring, any energy gained by the spring is balanced by an energy loss from the external source, thus upholding the law of conservation of energy. If an experiment appears to violate this law, it is likely due to a failure to properly define the system boundary.
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Ameer Bux
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By squeezing a spring until it coils up, it then has more potential energy. So it will then have more mass, because mass is energy. So doesn't that violate the law of conservation of energy. The spring has more energy and mass after its squeezed than when it wasn't squeezed?
 
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It takes an external power source to increase the energy and mass of the spring.
 
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Ameer Bux said:
By squeezing a spring until it coils up, it then has more potential energy. So it will then have more mass, because mass is energy. So doesn't that violate the law of conservation of energy. The spring has more energy and mass after its squeezed than when it wasn't squeezed?

Conservation of energy only holds for a "closed system". That is a system that has no energy crossing the system boundary.

If your system boundary only contains a spring then no energy can get in or out so the spring cannot be compressed and COE holds true.

If your system boundary includes something (like a human) that can compress the spring then any energy gained by the spring is matched by an energy loss from the human - and once again COE holds true.

If you ever see an experiment that appears to violate COE it probably means you have forgotten to include something within your system boundary so it isn't closed (eg some energy is leaking into or out of your system).
 
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FAQ: Violation of conservation of energy?

1. What is the conservation of energy principle?

The conservation of energy principle states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can only be transformed from one form to another.

2. How does the violation of conservation of energy occur?

The violation of conservation of energy occurs when the total amount of energy in a closed system changes over time. This can happen due to external forces or factors that affect the system.

3. Can the conservation of energy be violated?

No, the conservation of energy is a fundamental law of physics and cannot be violated. However, it may appear to be violated in certain situations due to incomplete or incorrect measurements or understanding of the system.

4. What are some examples of violations of conservation of energy?

Some examples of apparent violations of conservation of energy include perpetual motion machines, where energy seems to be continuously produced without any input, and nuclear reactions, where energy seems to be created from mass. However, these examples can be explained by taking into account the energy and mass of the entire system.

5. How is the conservation of energy important in scientific studies?

The conservation of energy is an important principle in scientific studies as it allows researchers to make predictions and understand the behavior of physical systems. It also plays a crucial role in various fields such as engineering, chemistry, and biology.

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