What best describes the energy in a closed system at the beginning of a day and the energy at the end of the same day? Check all that apply.

Some energy can disappear after it has caused motion.
Some energy can be changed from one form to another.
Some energy can be lost to the environment around the system.
The total initial energy will be equal to the total final energy.
The total initial energy will be greater than the total final energy.
Friction can cause energy to be destroyed during the day.
Friction can cause the amount of thermal energy to increase.

1 answer

In a closed system, the following statements apply:

  1. Some energy can be changed from one form to another. - This is true, as energy can transform between potential energy, kinetic energy, thermal energy, etc.

  2. Some energy can be lost to the environment around the system. - This can also be true in practical scenarios where the system is not perfectly closed; however, in a strictly closed system with ideal conditions, this wouldn’t apply.

  3. The total initial energy will be equal to the total final energy. - This is true in an ideal closed system due to the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

  4. Friction can cause the amount of thermal energy to increase. - This is true, as friction converts kinetic energy into thermal energy, increasing the thermal energy of the system.

The other statements are generally not correct in the context of a closed system:

  • Some energy can disappear after it has caused motion. - This does not accurately describe energy behavior in a closed system, as energy is conserved.

  • The total initial energy will be greater than the total final energy. - This is not true in a closed system; total energy remains constant.

  • Friction can cause energy to be destroyed during the day. - This is incorrect; energy is not destroyed, it is transformed (for example, kinetic energy into thermal energy).

Thus, the selected correct statements are:

  • Some energy can be changed from one form to another.
  • The total initial energy will be equal to the total final energy.
  • Friction can cause the amount of thermal energy to increase.