7. 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
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 roller coaster destroys potential energy.
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 first statement is true according to the graph. 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:
1. The roller coaster’s kinetic and potential energy change from location to the next, but its total energy remains the same.
This is because the graph shows that both the kinetic and potential energy values change as the roller coaster moves from one location to another. However, the total energy, which is the sum of the kinetic and potential energy, remains constant throughout the observation.
To analyze the graph of the roller coaster's potential and kinetic energy, we need to understand the concepts of potential and kinetic energy and how they relate to each other.
Potential energy refers to the energy an object possesses due to its position or state. In this case, the roller coaster's potential energy is highest at location A, decreases slightly at location B, decreases further at location C, and reaches its lowest at location D.
Kinetic energy, on the other hand, refers to the energy of an object in motion. It is determined by the object's mass and velocity. Looking at the graph, we can see that the roller coaster's kinetic energy is lowest at location A, increases at location B, further increases at location C, and reaches its highest at location D.
Now, let's evaluate the given statements based on this information:
1. The roller coaster's kinetic and potential energy change from location to the next, but its total energy remains the same.
This statement is incorrect because as we can see from the graph, both the kinetic and potential energy values change from location to location.
2. The roller coaster destroys potential energy.
This statement is incorrect because the roller coaster does not destroy potential energy. It actually converts some of its potential energy into kinetic energy as it moves.
3. Potential energy increases, but kinetic energy does not change.
This statement is incorrect because both potential and kinetic energy change at different locations. Kinetic energy increases as the roller coaster gains speed and potential energy decreases as it descends.
4. The roller coaster creates kinetic energy.
This statement is correct. As the roller coaster moves from location A to D, its kinetic energy increases, implying that it is acquiring kinetic energy.
Therefore, the correct statement according to the graph is that the roller coaster creates kinetic energy.