Discussion Questions: Energy in a Roller Coaster Ride - Think of
an example from everyday life where potential energy is
transformed into kinetic energy, or vice versa. Draw a diagram
that illustrates the transformation, using the interactive
activity as an example. Then describe the transformation. For
example: When I carry a sled to the top of a snowy hill, the
potential energy of the sled increases. As I stand with my sled
at the top of the hill, the kinetic energy is zero and the
potential energy is at its maximum. As I slide down the hill,
the potential energy of the sled decreases and its kinetic
energy increases. - Imagine you are making an animation of a
roller coaster with a pie chart representing the total amount of
potential and kinetic energy in the system. What are the cars
doing as the section representing kinetic energy increases in
size? - The roller coaster in this interactive is a model. In
real life, not all of the potential energy of the coaster cars
is converted to kinetic energy and back