Question

A student makes a computational model that gives the maximum speed of a roller coaster car that starts its right at a given height, assuming that friction is negligible. Friction with the tracks and due to air resistance opposes motion.
How does the maximum speed calculated by the computational model compare with the actual maximum speed for a real roller coaster car for which friction is not negligible?
(1 point)
The real maximum speed is the same as the model maximum speed but with a negative sign.
The real maximum speed is slower than the model.
Maximum the real maximum speed is faster than the model maximum speed.
The real maximum speed is the same as the model maximum speed

Answer 1

The real maximum speed is slower than the model.

Reason: friction and air resistance dissipate mechanical energy as heat, so less gravitational potential converts to kinetic energy than in the no‑friction model, giving a lower top speed.