conservation of matter
Definition
- Noun:
- A fundamental principle of classical physics stating that matter cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. This principle, also known as the law of conservation of mass, asserts that the total mass of an isolated system remains constant over time, regardless of any physical or chemical changes occurring within the system.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- The experiment was designed to demonstrate the conservation of matter by showing that the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products in a chemical reaction.
- According to the principle of conservation of matter, when wood burns, the atoms are rearranged into gases and ash, but no atoms are lost.
- The concept of conservation of matter is a cornerstone of classical chemistry and physics.
Advanced Usage
- In modern physics: The principle of conservation of matter is combined with the conservation of energy into the more general law of mass-energy conservation, as described by Einstein's theory of relativity, where mass can be converted to energy and vice versa.
- While conservation of matter holds true for chemical reactions, nuclear reactions involve the conversion of mass into energy.
Variants and Related Terms
- Law of conservation of mass: A synonymous term for conservation of matter.
- Conservation of mass-energy: The modern, more comprehensive principle that combines and supersedes the separate classical laws of conservation of matter and conservation of energy.
- Conservation law: A general scientific principle stating that a particular measurable property of an isolated physical system does not change as the system evolves over time.
Synonyms
- Law of conservation of mass
- Principle of mass conservation
Related Concepts and Phrases
- Closed system / Isolated system: A system in which no matter or energy is exchanged with the surroundings, which is a necessary condition for the classical conservation of matter to be observed.
- Mass balance: A practical application of the principle in engineering and chemistry, where the total mass entering a process must equal the total mass leaving it.
Noun
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a fundamental principle of classical physics that matter cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system
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