Question

A student creates a model of a roller coaster to demonstrate energy transformation. She places the roller coaster car at the highest point and lets it go. The car rolls forward and completes the course with no additional energy.




What energy transformation can the student describe as occurring between point X and point Y?

Responses

Kinetic changes to potential, then some potential changes to thermal.
Kinetic changes to potential, then some potential changes to thermal.

Thermal changes to potential, then some potential changes to thermal.
Thermal changes to potential, then some potential changes to thermal.

Kinetic changes to potential, then some potential changes to kinetic.
Kinetic changes to potential, then some potential changes to kinetic.

Potential changes to kinetic, then some kinetic changes to potential.

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The correct response is:

**Potential changes to kinetic, then some kinetic changes to potential.**

In a roller coaster, as the car descends from a height (Point X), the gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. As it climbs back up to another height (Point Y), kinetic energy is once again converted into potential energy. Thus, throughout the course, energy transformations occur between potential energy and kinetic energy as the car moves along the track.