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.

Question

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.

Potential energy increases, but kinetic energy does not change.
Potential energy increases, but kinetic energy does not change.

The roller coaster destroys potential energy.
The roller coaster destroys potential energy.

The roller coaster creates kinetic energy.

Answer 1

The correct statement based on the principles of energy conservation in a roller coaster system would be:

The roller coaster’s kinetic and potential energy change from location to the next, but its total energy remains the same.

This statement accurately reflects the conservation of mechanical energy, which states that in the absence of external work, the total mechanical energy (potential energy + kinetic energy) of the roller coaster remains constant. As the coaster moves to different locations, potential energy and kinetic energy will convert into one another, but the total energy will not change.