What principle states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed in form?

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The principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed in form, is more accurately referred to as the Law of Conservation of Energy. This fundamental concept in physics and chemistry emphasizes that the total energy within an isolated system remains constant, although it can be transformed from one type to another, such as from kinetic to potential energy or from thermal energy to mechanical energy.

The first law of thermodynamics is a specific formulation of the Law of Conservation of Energy that applies in thermodynamic processes, indicating that the internal energy of a system can be changed through heat transfer or work done on or by the system. While closely related, the broader Law of Conservation of Energy encompasses all energy transformations and is not limited strictly to thermodynamics.

The second law of thermodynamics deals with the direction of energy transfer and the increase of entropy in an isolated system, rather than the conservation of energy itself. The Kinetic Energy Theorem specifically relates to the work-energy principle and does not encompass the broader principle of energy conservation. Thus, the most accurate representation of the principle you're asking about is the Law of Conservation of Energy, as it encapsulates the idea that energy is transformed rather than created or annihilated.

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