How does the conservation of energy apply in particle interactions?

The conservation of energy applies in particle interactions, ensuring that energy is neither created nor destroyed.

In particle interactions, the total energy of the system before and after the interaction must be conserved. This means that the energy of the particles involved in the interaction must remain constant. For example, in a collision between two particles, the total kinetic energy of the particles before the collision must be equal to the total kinetic energy of the particles after the collision.

The conservation of energy can be used to predict the outcomes of particle interactions. For example, if the initial energy of a particle is known, the conservation of energy can be used to determine the final energy of the particle after it interacts with another particle.

In some particle interactions, energy can be converted from one form to another. For example, in a particle decay, the energy of the decaying particle is converted into the energy of the decay products. However, the total energy of the system must still be conserved.

Overall, the conservation of energy is a fundamental principle in particle interactions, ensuring that energy is always conserved and allowing physicists to predict the outcomes of these interactions.