Final answer:
The burning of a wooden match transforms chemical potential energy into heat and light, which are forms of kinetic energy, illustrating the conservation of energy. This process is analogous to the energy transformation occurring in the internal combustion engines.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a wooden match burns in air, chemical potential energy is in fact converted to kinetic energy. This process is an example of a chemical reaction where energy stored in the molecular bonds of the match head's chemicals is released when these chemicals react with oxygen in the air. During the burning of the match, there is a release of energy in the form of heat and light, both of which can be considered forms of kinetic energy.
The conservation of energy principle applies here; the chemical potential energy present before the combustion is converted into different forms but the total energy is conserved. Inelastic collisions or interactions between particles do not change this conservation though they may result in some loss of kinetic energy as heat.
Comparing the burning of a match to a similar process in a controlled environment, such as internal combustion engines, illustrates how this potential energy release can perform work. In engines, the combustion of gasoline results in rapidly expanding gases which then push against the pistons, generating mechanical energy for the vehicle to move.