When a dolphin jumps, it moves its muscles and chemical potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. Some of this energy is lost to the dolphin. Explain why this phenomenon does not violate the Law of Conservation of Energy.

The dolphin is a closed system, so energy is allowed to exit the system.

The energy is transferred to waves in the surrounding water.

The muscles recapture the energy when they relax after contractions.

The Law of Conservation of Energy does not apply to biological systems.

The correct answer is B. We have that closed systems do not exchange thermal energy with their surroundings, so A is wrong. The Law of Conservation of Energy applies to all systems, regardless of whether they are biological or not; even organisms are made out of atoms and that is what matters. Hence D is wrong. C is wrong because the energy is dispersed afterwards, we cannot recapture it, even though it is there. B is correct; the energy of the dolphin gets converted into various forms like sound energy of the waves, thermal energy (the movement of muscles produces heat) and kinetic energy of the waves. The total sum of energies equals the energy output of the dolphin.