The roller coaster diagram shows a set of cars moving downwa - GED Prep
Question
The roller coaster diagram shows a set of cars moving downward from position 1 to position 2.
As the cars travel from position 1 toward position 2, their gravitational potential energy decreases, yet their total energy remains unchanged.
Answers
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correct
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Explanation
The correct answer is B
The cars' gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
Explanation
As the roller coaster cars move from the higher position 1 to the lower position 2, the gravitational potential energy (GPE) decreases because they are getting closer to the ground. This loss in GPE is equal to the gain in kinetic energy (KE), assuming no energy is lost to friction or air resistance. According to the law of conservation of energy, the total mechanical energy (sum of KE and GPE) in a closed system remains constant if there are no external forces like friction acting on the system. Therefore, as the GPE decreases, it must be converted into KE, which explains why the cars speed up as they descend.
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