As shown below, a student places a 500-gram car at point X on a wooden racetrack in an energy transformation investigation.
What outcome is most likely if the student uses a 700-gram car instead?
(1 point)
Responses
A 700-gram car would have more kinetic energy at point X and less potential energy at the bottom of the racetrack
A 700-gram car would have more kinetic energy at point X and less potential energy at the bottom of the racetrack
A 700-gram car would have more potential energy at point X and more kinetic energy at the bottom of the racetrack
A 700-gram car would have more potential energy at point X and more kinetic energy at the bottom of the racetrack
A 700-gram car would have less kinetic energy at point X and less potential energy at the bottom of the racetrack
A 700-gram car would have less kinetic energy at point X and less potential energy at the bottom of the racetrack
A 700-gram car would have less potential energy at point X and less kinetic energy at the bottom of the racetrack
A 700-gram car would have less potential energy at point X and less kinetic energy at the bottom of the racetrack
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A 700-gram car would have more kinetic energy at point X and less potential energy at the bottom of the racetrack
The correct response is:
A 700-gram car would have more potential energy at point X and more kinetic energy at the bottom of the racetrack.
To determine the outcome if a 700-gram car is used instead of a 500-gram car, we need to consider the energy transformation involved.
At point X on the racetrack, the car has potential energy due to its height above the ground. This is given by the equation PE = m * g * h, where m is the mass of the car, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the car above the ground.
Since the mass of the car has increased from 500 grams to 700 grams, the potential energy at point X will be greater for the 700-gram car.
As the car moves down the racetrack, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, given by the equation KE = 0.5 * m * v^2, where m is the mass of the car and v is its velocity.
Since the mass of the car has increased, the kinetic energy at the bottom of the racetrack will also be greater for the 700-gram car.
Therefore, the correct response is:
A 700-gram car would have more potential energy at point X and more kinetic energy at the bottom of the racetrack.