Question

Explain mechanical energy and describe the mechanical energy of a roller coaster car immediately before it begins traveling down a long track

Answer 1

In physics, mechanical energy means the sum of potential and kinetic energy of the object.


When the roller coaster is paused at the top of the big hill, it has potential energy stored in it. As it speeds down the hill, potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. If it goes back up another hill, some of the kinetic energy is stored as potential energy.