Question

Explain the difference between the everyday meaning of the phrase “conserving energy” and what scientists mean by the phrase “conservation of energy”

Answer 1

Conservation of energy has two very different meanings. In the popular sense, "conserve" means to "save" or "preserve." Electric energy for lights likely had its origin in burning coal, so turning off lights tends to preserve coal, a valuable natural resource. In the scientific sense, conservation alludes to constancy.