Multiple Choice Question

Question

A student is investigating energy transfer from potential to kinetic energy using a toy car on a ramp. The student place the toy car at the top of the ramp, releases it, and records how far the car travels. The student's setup is shown.

Which statement best describes what would happen if the student increased the angle of the ramp?
A.
The toy car would travel farther because more kinetic energy would be transferred into potential energy.

B.
The toy car would travel farther because more potential energy would be transferred into kinetic energy.

C.
The toy car would not travel as far because more potential energy would be transferred into kinetic energy.

D.
The toy car would not travel as far because more kinetic energy would be transferred into potential energy.

Answer 1

The best statement that describes what would happen if the student increased the angle of the ramp is:

B. The toy car would travel farther because more potential energy would be transferred into kinetic energy.

Increasing the angle of the ramp would increase the height from which the car is released, thus increasing its potential energy. When the car is released, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as the car rolls down the ramp. A steeper ramp would allow for a greater conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy, resulting in the car traveling farther.