An engineering student is gathering data on the motion of a model car traveling down a ramp. If energy is conserved, the potential energy of the car at the top of the ramp should equal the kinetic energy of the car at the bottom of the ramp. After the first trial, the student calculates that the kinetic energy at the bottom of the ramp is less than the potential energy at the top of the ramp. Which of the following can best explain this difference?
A)The car gained a small amount of mass as it moved down the ramp.
B)The student accidentally accelerated the car at the top of the ramp.
C)The measured height of the ramp was less than the actual height.
D)The student did not include the effect of frictional force in the calculation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difference in energy can be explained by the effect of frictional forces, which convert some of the mechanical energy into heat, thus reducing the kinetic energy at the bottom compared to the potential energy at the top.

An Engineering Student Is Gathering Data on the Motion of a Model