Final answer:
The statement is true as potential energy is converted to kinetic energy and heat when a cyclist coasts down a hill and up another. Some energy is lost as heat due to friction, which explains why the bike stops at a lower point. Additionally, increasing kinetic energy uphill would be exhausting.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or false: A cyclist coasts down one hill and up another hill until she comes to a stop. The point at which the bicycle stops is lower than the point at which it started coasting because part of the original potential energy has been converted to a quantity of heat and this makes the tires of the bicycle warm. This statement is true.
When a cyclist coasts down a hill, gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which propels the bicycle forward. As the bicycle climbs the other hill, this kinetic energy is converted back into potential energy until the bicycle stops. Throughout this process, some energy is indeed converted to heat due to friction between the bicycle tires and the ground, as well as air resistance, which ultimately warms the tires.
Regarding the exertion while riding up a gentle hill, the statement is true that it is fairly easy to increase your potential energy, but increasing your kinetic energy would make you feel exhausted because it requires more effort to maintain or increase speed uphill due to the work done against gravity.