Physics' Unbreakable Rules

Conservation laws state that certain properties of a system remain constant if no external forces act on it. The most important are conservation of energy and conservation of momentum.

Energy Conservation

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. For example, when you ride a roller coaster, potential energy turns into kinetic energy and back again.

Momentum Conservation

The total momentum of a closed system remains the same, which explains the motion of objects after a collision.

Why It Matters

These laws help scientists solve problems and make predictions, from car crashes to rocket launches.