Final answer:
A system in physics may or may not be conserved, specifically regarding its kinetic energy. Momentum is always conserved in a closed system, while kinetic energy can change forms. Systems in physics are guided by conservation laws, affecting their properties and interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this chapter, we introduced a number of general properties of systems. In particular, a system may or may not be conserved. When discussing a closed system of objects in terms of physics and particularly in the realm of mechanics and thermodynamics, the total momentum is always conserved, provided there are no external forces acting on the system. However, the kinetic energy of that system may not be conserved, for instance, during inelastic collisions where kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy.
Thinking of these objects as systems is a concept that is particularly useful in physics as it allows us to apply conservation laws. Conservation laws are fundamental to understanding physical processes and are pivotal in explaining how systems interact and change. An example of applying these laws is when assessing a thermodynamic system at macroscopic scales, where we can determine if the system is in thermal equilibrium by checking if all parts are at the same temperature.
Additionally, in electric circuits, an understanding of these systems is essential. For instance, when calculating the current through a resistor, we consider the circuit as a system where the current is the result of the difference in potentials and the properties of the resistor. Similarly, in examining the interactions between charged objects, changes in the electric properties of a system can occur in response to external influences, reflecting the dynamic nature of these interactions within various systems.