conservation of energy

American  

noun

Physics.

1. the principle that in a system that does not undergo any force from outside the system, the amount of energy is constant, irrespective of its changes in form.

---

conservation of energy British  

noun

1. the principle that the total energy of any isolated system is constant and independent of any changes occurring within the system

---

conservation of energy Scientific  

1. A principle stating that the total energy of a closed system remains constant over time, regardless of other possible changes within the system. It is related to the symmetry of time invariance.

2. See also invariance thermodynamics

---

Etymology

Origin of conservation of energy

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

conservation of energy

Marcus had discovered a calculation that violated the law of conservation of energy, a bedrock scientific principle, tucked inside a new theory on electron behavior.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

This in turn has some important implications for the conservation of energy and momentum.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2023

Because bipedalism allows for greater conservation of energy, not to mention freeing up our arms to carry tools, some anthropologists believe this behavior contributed to our brain size.

From Salon ● Dec. 23, 2022

Calls for better conservation of energy are also growing in France, like in much of Europe, as the war in Ukraine squeezes supplies of gas and oil.

From New York Times ● Aug. 25, 2022

It was my favorite episode, the one about the law of conservation of energy.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas