Which principle states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed?

The principle that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed, is the Law of Conservation of Energy. This law emphasizes that the total energy in a closed system remains constant, although it can change forms, for example, from kinetic to potential energy or from chemical energy to thermal energy. This concept is foundational in understanding physics and chemistry, as it applies to numerous processes in the natural world, such as energy transfer during chemical reactions or mechanical processes.

In contrast, the Law of Conservation of Mass, while related, pertains specifically to mass rather than energy, indicating that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. The Laws of Thermodynamics cover broader principles of heat and energy interactions but do not specifically focus on the transformation aspect of energy. Similarly, the Laws of Motion relate to the behavior of objects in motion and do not address energy conservation. Thus, the Law of Conservation of Energy accurately captures the essence of the principle discussed.