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  What would be the consequences in physics if an exception to conservation of energy were found?

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I understand that the conservation laws are "foundational" in some sense, but I have not ever heard what would be implied by the discovery of an exception. I am a layman, so please explain in simple terms.

Thanks.

asked Sep 25, 2018 in Chat by John [ no revision ]
recategorized Sep 26, 2018 by Dilaton

low level (popular) physics. Users with 500+ reputation may vote here to close.

1 Answer

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It is simple: if the energy of something is not conserved, then it changes. Take a body in an external time-dependent force, and you will see the body energy is not conserved. The body moves with accelerations here and there, etc. Another example from thermodynamycs: you heat or cool some system, whose energy is thus not conserved. It symply means the system is not "closed", but "open" to external influences.

answered Sep 26, 2018 by Vladimir Kalitvianski (102 points) [ no revision ]

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