Which statement correctly describes energy in general?

• A. Energy can be created by machines.
• B. Energy is conserved and cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
• C. Energy is destroyed by every transformation.
• D. Energy doubles in every conversion.

Answer: (B)

Energy is conserved: in any process, the total amount of energy stays the same, even though it can change from one form to another. Machines don’t create energy; they transform energy from one form to another—chemical or electrical energy into kinetic, light, or heat—and some energy is often lost as heat due to inefficiency. Because energy simply changes form and is not lost or gained overall, the total remains constant. The idea that energy can be created, destroyed, or that it doubles in every conversion runs counter to this principle. In real processes, you might see energy appear as heat or other forms, but when you account for all forms, the total amount is preserved.