Entry Exam Category: High School Equivalency Exams
Course: General Education Development (GED)
Exam: GED Science and Practice Test
Practice Question
The roller coaster diagram shows a set of cars moving downward from position 1 to position 2. As the cars travel from position 1 toward position 2, their...
Answer Choices
- A: gravitational potential energy; total energy
- B: kinetic energy; gravitational potential energy
- C: total energy; kinetic energy
- D: gravitational potential energy; kinetic energy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: As the roller coaster cars move from a higher position (Position 1) to a lower position (Position 2), they lose gravitational potential energy due to the decrease in height. However, in an ideal system (ignoring friction and air resistance), the total mechanical energy (kinetic + potential) remains conserved. The loss in potential energy converts into kinetic energy, increasing the speed of the roller coaster.