Question

100 POINTS!! PLEASE HELP!

Two students are investigating the effect of surfaces on a moving object. In an experiment, they place a toy car on top of a ramp, release it, and then measure the distance it travels across a flat surface before coming to a stop. The table shows the results for three trials, each using a different surtace.

To construct the same diagram for Trial 3, which change to the diagram would make it most accurate?
A: Shorten the horizontal line; remove all red arrows.
B: Shorten the horizontal line; bunch the five red arrows together.
C: shorten the horizontal line; bunch the five red arrows together and double their length.
D. keep the horizontal line the same length; double the length of each red arrow.

Answer 1

Answer:

Shorten the horizontal line; bunch the five red arrows together

Explanation:

As the car rolls down the ramp, its potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. When the car reaches the flat surface, its kinetic energy is converted to thermal energy. Total energy is conserved, and the car always starts with the same amount of potential energy, so the amount of thermal energy is the same for all three trials. The red arrows indicate the amount of thermal energy, so they will stay the same. The car has a shorter stopping distance in the third trial, so the horizontal line will be shortened.