Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Integrated Science (024) Practice Exam

What principle states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed?

1. First Law of Thermodynamics

2. Law of Conservation of Mass

3. Second Law of Thermodynamics

4. Law of Conservation of Energy

The correct answer is: Law of Conservation of Energy

The principle that states energy can neither be created nor destroyed is known as the Law of Conservation of Energy. This law explains that in an isolated system, the total amount of energy remains constant over time; energy can only be transformed from one form to another. For example, potential energy can be converted into kinetic energy, and vice versa, but the total amount of energy in the system will not change. This principle is foundational to understanding various physical processes and is crucial in fields such as physics, chemistry, and engineering. It highlights the idea that all energy is accounted for during transformations, supporting the notion of energy balance in closed systems. In contrast, the First Law of Thermodynamics is essentially synonymous with the Law of Conservation of Energy but is often discussed in the context of heat and work, while the Law of Conservation of Mass refers specifically to the mass in a closed system, stating that mass cannot be created or destroyed. The Second Law of Thermodynamics deals with the direction of energy transfer and quality of energy, not the quantity. Thus, the specificity of the term "energy" in the context of the question aligns perfectly with the Law of Conservation of Energy.