D&D 5E Does Prestidigitation Break the Law of Conservation of Energy?

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Simple question, but the consequences are a bit strange.

If you use Prestidigitation to clean an object . . . what happens to the "dirtiness" on it? Is it just magically destroyed? Is it teleported somewhere else? Is it somehow melded into the object you clean?

 

[Maxperson]

Simple question, but the consequences are a bit strange.

If you use Prestidigitation to clean an object . . . what happens to the "dirtiness" on it? Is it just magically destroyed? Is it teleported somewhere else? Is it somehow melded into the object you clean?

I would just have the dirt, paint or what have you just fall off onto whatever is beneath the object being cleaned.

 

[niklinna]

If Prestidigitation is a concern for conservation of energy/matter, be sure not to look at Fireball, or Wall of Stone, or...gosh, so many other spells. Like, all spells. Where does the energy/matter for any magic come from?

But more prosaically, for Prestidigitation, the dirt can just fall to the ground. And if you soil an object, in a medievalish world, I'm sure there's plenty of nearby dirt to be drawn to the target of the spell.

 

[Fanaelialae]

Is there even a Law of Conservation of Energy in a D&D setting?

 

[Charlaquin]

Is there even a Law of Conservation of Energy in a D&D setting?

Maybe there is, but magic can temporarily overwrite it.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Maybe there is, but magic can temporarily overwrite it.

In Quest for Chevar, the line between physical magic and irrational magic is that irrational magic can break Newton’s Laws, while physical magic is still limited, though it provides shortcuts and loopholes.

 

[Maxperson]

If Prestidigitation is a concern for conservation of energy/matter, be sure not to look at Fireball, or Wall of Stone, or...gosh, so many other spells. Like, all spells. Where does the energy/matter for any magic come from?

Magical energy that is all around in any non-magic dead area is turned into other matter or energy.

 

[Parmandur]

broad evil smile

Magic always has a price, dearie.

 

[Deset Gled]

Sometimes, yes, it breaks physics. Heating and cooling don't conserve energy.

But other times, Prestidigitation isn't even magic. Sometimes the somatic component is literally just wiping something clean. Low levels spells are like that sometimes. Didn't you ever notice that Color Spray is just pocket sand you throw at enemies? And don't get me started on Mending.

 

[niklinna]

Magical energy that is all around in any non-magic dead area is turned into other matter or energy.

Yay, problem solved!