# Explain the conditions where the assumption of total mechanical energy of a system is conserved.

## Question:

Explain the conditions where the assumption of total mechanical energy of a system is conserved.

## Energy Conservation Principle:

The energy conservation principle consists of a physical law that states that if no external forces act on the system, the total energy of the system should conserve. Energy is not created nor destroyed, it only transforms. This means that a system may present energy transformations, but the overall total energy of the system will remain the same. The total energy of a system can be determined by the sum of the total kinetic and potential energy of the system.

$$E_t=K_e+U_e\\ E_t=0.5mv^2+mgh$$

## Answer and Explanation:

The principal condition in which we can assume the energy of the system is conserved is that the system has to be closed, which means no external forces act on the system. No external forces mean that no work is done to the system. Also, for the system to be closed no external energy coming from the surroundings is considered to interact with the system.