On a roller coaster, describe the kinetic and potential energy of the car at the top of the first hill, the bottom of the first drop, and later in the ride. what effect does friction have on the car throughout the ride? enter your answer in the space provided.

The total amount of energy stays the same, but throughout the ride, the kinetic energy and the potential energy change, still adding up to the same number. At the top of the ride it has potential energy, and as it goes down the potential energy decreases and the kinetic energy increases. When it’s at the bottom of the first drop it has maxed out its kinetic energy, and minimized its potential energy. Friction slows down the car, and pushes on the cart with a force that is equal and opposite to the force being exerted in the track. The reason the track keeps going is because though it exerts and equal and opposite force the momentum of the objects is different, allowing the car to continue moving, however friction will slow it down until eventually it comes to a stop.