In an investigation of energy transfer, a student observes a roller coaster at locations A, B, C, and D. Then she creates the graph below of the roller coaster’s potential and kinetic energy at each location.
Which statement is true according to the graph?
(1 point)
Responses
Potential energy increases, but kinetic energy does not change.
Potential energy increases, but kinetic energy does not change.
The roller coaster creates kinetic energy.
The roller coaster creates kinetic energy.
The roller coaster’s kinetic and potential energy change from location to the next, but its total energy remains the same.
The roller coaster’s kinetic and potential energy change from location to the next, but its total energy remains the same.
The roller coaster destroys potential energy.
The correct statement according to the graph is: The roller coaster’s kinetic and potential energy change from location to the next, but its total energy remains the same.
The correct statement according to the graph is:
The roller coaster’s kinetic and potential energy change from location to the next, but its total energy remains the same.
To analyze the graph and determine which statement is true, first, we need to understand the concepts of potential and kinetic energy.
Potential energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its position or condition. In the case of a roller coaster, potential energy is usually associated with its height from the ground at a specific location. The higher the roller coaster is, the greater its potential energy.
Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy of an object in motion. It is determined by the mass of the object and its velocity. In the case of a roller coaster, kinetic energy is associated with its speed.
Now let's examine the given graph. The graph shows the roller coaster's potential energy and kinetic energy at different locations (A, B, C, and D).
In the graph, if we observe the potential energy line, it appears to increase as the roller coaster moves from A to D. This indicates that the roller coaster gains potential energy as it goes up and reaches higher points along the track. Therefore, the statement "Potential energy increases, but kinetic energy does not change" is not true, as kinetic energy will be affected by potential energy changes.
Looking at the kinetic energy line, we can see that it changes as the roller coaster moves from one location to another. This indicates that the roller coaster's kinetic energy is changing at different points. So, the statement "The roller coaster's kinetic and potential energy change from location to the next, but its total energy remains the same" is true.
Based on the graph, we can conclude that the roller coaster's kinetic and potential energy change from location to the next, but its total energy remains the same. Therefore, the correct answer is "The roller coaster's kinetic and potential energy change from location to the next, but its total energy remains the same."