Question

A roller coaster works by being hoisted to the top of the highest peak on the track and then released. As the roller coaster car moves along the track the energy gets converted back and forth between kinetic and gravitational potential energy. The entire time the roller coaster car is in motion air friction and friction in the wheels act to oppose the motion of the car. At which point during the ride is the total mechanical energy of the roller coaster car the greatest?

a. At the bottom of the first dip in the track when the car is moving the fastest.
b. When the car is exactly at half its original height half way through the ride.
c. At the top of the highest peak as the very start of the ride.
d. At the end of the ride as the car nears the station.

Answer 1

a. At the bottom of the first dip in the track when the car is moving the fastest.

Step-by-step explanation:

P.S - The exact question is -

The correct option is - a. At the bottom of the first dip in the track when the car is moving the fastest.

Reason -

From the diagram , we can see that the total mechanical energy of the roller coaster car is greatest At the bottom of the first dip in the track when the car is moving the fastest.