What does the law of conservation of energy state?

The law of conservation of energy states that energy can only be transformed from one form to another. This principle asserts that the total amount of energy in an isolated system remains constant over time. When energy moves or changes form, such as from kinetic energy to potential energy during the motion of objects, the total energy before and after the transformation remains unchanged.

For example, when you flip a switch to turn on a light, electrical energy is converted into light energy and heat energy, but the total amount of energy remains the same. This fundamental law underpins various scientific concepts and helps us understand how energy interacts in physical systems.

The other options misrepresent this principle. The assertion that energy can be created and destroyed contradicts the conservation law. The statement claiming energy is constant in all forms suggests that energy does not change form, which is not accurate since energy can and does convert from one type to another. Lastly, stating that energy is a finite resource introduces a concept that relates to availability rather than the fundamental nature of energy itself, which is characterized by its persistence and transformation rather than its quantity.