Final answer:
Energy transformations follow the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, and the second law of thermodynamics, which addresses the increase in entropy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whenever energy is converted from one form to another in a physical or chemical change, two fundamental rules always apply. These rules are expressed in the laws of thermodynamics. Firstly, the law of conservation of energy states that during a chemical or physical change, energy can be neither created nor destroyed, although it can be changed in form. This law is also recognized as the first law of thermodynamics. Secondly, energy transfer must follow the second law of thermodynamics, which explains how energy can change form, often resulting in an increase in entropy.
Examples of energy transformations include a light bulb converting electrical energy into light and heat energy, a gas stove turning chemical energy from natural gas into heat energy, and plants transforming the energy of sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Despite the transformation of energy from one form to another, the total amount of energy before and after a change must remain constant, thus obeying the first law of thermodynamics.