Question

Explain how the energy of a marble is transformed as it rolls down a ramp.

Give evidence that the energy of the marble remains the same at all points on the ramp.

Answer 1

Gravity assists the marble, leading to conservation of energy. The stored energy is release as momentum, the output of energy is constant.

Answer 2

As the marble goes down the ramp potential energy is being transformed to kinetic energy, as it goes up the kinetic energy is transformed back into potential. As it keeps going up and down the energy will keep going back and forth. Energy is neither created nor destroyed: states the Law of Conservation of Energy.