Question

a roller coaster car is pulled to the top of the first hill and released. as it travels along the track, it speeds up, slows down, and changes height. which of the following best explains how the total energy of the system is affected throughout the ride (ignoring friction and air resistance)? total energy increases as the car gains speed. energy is lost when the car goes down a hill. mechanical energy is conserved, changing between potential and kinetic forms. potential energy is destroyed at the bottom of each hill.

Explanation:

In a friction - and air - resistance - free system, mechanical energy (the sum of potential and kinetic energy) is conserved. As the roller - coaster car moves, energy changes between potential (related to height) and kinetic (related to speed) forms but the total mechanical energy remains the same.

Answer:

Mechanical energy is conserved, changing between potential and kinetic forms.