What happens to energy when it changes form, according to the law of conservation of energy?

The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another. This principle implies that the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant, which is why the correct answer is that energy remains constant overall during transformations.

For instance, when electrical energy powers a light bulb, it is converted into light energy and thermal energy, but the total amount of energy before and after this conversion remains the same. This understanding is essential for analyzing energy systems and understanding phenomena in physics and environmental science, including climate change.

Other options suggest various misinterpretations of energy transformation. Losing energy during transformation implies that energy is not conserved, which contradicts fundamental principles of physics. Additionally, suggesting that energy is created as heat or increases during transformation also violates the conservation principle. Thus, the idea of overall constancy accurately reflects the behavior of energy in transformations, adhering to the laws of thermodynamics.