Final answer:
In physics, to determine energy conservation in a system, we consider open, closed, or isolated systems. An open system can exchange matter and energy, a closed system can exchange energy but not matter, and an isolated system exchanges neither. Conservation laws specific to each system can be applied to check for energy conservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In physics, to determine whether energy has been conserved in a system, we need to consider the type of system: open, closed, or isolated.
- An open system can exchange both matter and energy with its surroundings. Examples include a pot of boiling water, where energy and water vapor are lost, and gained respectively.
- A closed system can exchange energy but not matter with its surroundings. An example is a sealed pouch of ready-made dinner in boiling water, where only energy is exchanged.
- An isolated system exchanges neither energy nor matter with the surroundings. A good example is an insulated thermos containing hot coffee gradually losing its heat to the surroundings.
To check for energy conservation in a system, we can apply the conservation laws specific to each type of system. For example, in a closed system, mechanical energy is conserved. In an open system, mechanical energy may not be conserved, and other forms of energy like heat transfer may be involved.