Conservation of energy on ramps, swings and coasters
Grade 11 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.
A toy coaster cart starts at rest 6 m up a frictionless track and rolls down to 1 m up. With g = 9.8 m/s², how fast is it there, Ari, to the nearest tenth?
A toy coaster cart starts at rest 4 m up a frictionless track and rolls down to 1.5 m up. With g = 9.8 m/s², how fast is it there, Bo, to the nearest tenth?
A toy coaster cart starts at rest 5 m up a frictionless track and rolls down to 3.2 m up. With g = 9.8 m/s², how fast is it there, Esme, to the nearest tenth?
Read this first
Energy of a 0.5 kg toy coaster cart at three points (example data)
Point Height (m) Gravitational (J) Kinetic (J) A 5 24.5 0 B 2 9.8 14.7 C 0 0 22 Using the table, between which points does friction act on the cart, Jun?
- Between A and B
- Before point A
- Nowhere, since energy is conserved
- Between B and C
Using the table, how much mechanical energy became thermal energy, Kira?
- 22 J
- 24.5 J
- 2.5 J
- 0 J
Using the table, what is the cart's total mechanical energy at point B, Luz?
- 9.8 J
- 14.7 J, the kinetic energy
- 24.5 J
- 22 J
Milo says a heavier cart reaches a higher speed at the bottom of a frictionless ramp than a lighter one. Agree or disagree?
- Agree: lighter carts lose more energy
- Disagree: both reach the same speed
- Agree: more weight means more speed
Pia says a cart's speed at the bottom of a frictionless track depends on the track's shape, not just its height drop. Agree or disagree?
- Agree: steeper tracks give more speed
- Disagree: the height drop sets the speed
- Agree: longer tracks give more speed
A toy coaster cart starts at rest 5 m up a frictionless track. Can it get over a hill 6 m high, Ren?
- Yes, if the cart is heavier
- No: it can't rise above its 5 m start
- Yes, if it goes fast at the bottom
A toy coaster cart starts at rest 5 m up a frictionless track. With g = 9.8 m/s², how fast is it on top of a 3 m hill, Tala?
- About 6.3 m/s
- About 7.7 m/s
- 0 m/s
- About 9.9 m/s