Question

Students were creating graphs to illustrate the energy transformations that occur as a roller coaster moves along a track. The letters A-D on Graph 1 represent the position of a roller coaster as it moves along a track. The numbers 1-4 on Graph 2 were supposed to represent the energy of the roller coaster at positions A-D, but the students got their data mixed up. How should the bars in Graph 2 be ordered so that they match to the energy of the roller coaster as it moves from position A to B to C to D?

Answer 1

A4 B2 C1 D3

A- it's at the top and not moving so its all potential

B- Bottom so no potential, a little is lost to friction- a little thermal, it's moving so ther'es kinetic

C- in the middle hieght- some potential, lost more to friction so more thermal, not moving so no kinetic

D- bottom, so no potential. more energy lost to friction. still moving so some kinetic