As the cart on a roller coaster moves from point A to point B, how is energy transferred?

The correct choice highlights the principle of conservation of mechanical energy, which states that in an ideal system with no friction or external forces acting on it, the total mechanical energy remains constant. As the cart descends from higher elevation at point A to a lower elevation at point B, it loses potential energy due to the decrease in height. This lost potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, resulting in an increase in the speed of the cart.

This transformation illustrates how energy moves between different forms: the potential energy associated with height is converted into kinetic energy associated with motion. The total mechanical energy, which is the sum of potential and kinetic energy, remains unchanged throughout this process when external energy losses (like friction) are negligible.

In contrast, the other options misrepresent the behavior of energy in this scenario. One suggests overall energy decreases, which contradicts the conservation principle. Another claims that energy remains static, ignoring the dynamic relationship between potential and kinetic energy as the cart moves along the track. Lastly, the option stating that kinetic energy is lost as potential energy is gained contradicts the actual process where potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy, not lost. Thus, the first choice is the only one that accurately describes the energy transfer occurring as the roller coaster cart moves