Mechanical Principles

An amusement park engineer noticed that the roller coaster cart did not make it to the end of the track. He checks and determined that it was not a friction issue with the cart and track. Explain what he needs to do to help the cart reach the end of the track.

• Decrease the distance between the first and second hill to build more potential energy.

• Add another hill towards the end of the roller coaster to increase the amount of kinetic energy.

• Increase the height of the first hill to increase the amount of initial potential energy.

• Remove a hill and decrease the added friction at the end of the track.

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NGSS.MS-PS3-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Frank throws the same ball three different times. The diagram below shows the top speed at which the ball traveled during each throw.

• The ball had the most kinetic energy during the first throw.

• The ball had the most kinetic energy during the third throw.

• The ball had the most kinetic energy during the second throw.

• The ball had the same kinetic energy during all three throws.

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NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Which situation is an example of increasing potential energy?

• Pulling a wagon uphill

• Emptying a bucket of water

• A cat jumping from a tree

• A bicyclist stopping at a stop sign

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NGSS.MS-PS3-2

A metal ball has a constant velocity of zero. Which other quantity must also be zero?

• weight of the ball

• energy of the ball

• acceleration of the ball

• inertia of the ball

A roller coaster car moves on a roller coaster track through positions w, x, y, and z. At what position will the roller coaster car most likely have the greatest kinetic energy?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

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NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

The diagram below shows a model airplane. Which energy transformation occurs in a rubber band powered model airplane when it is flown?

• Thermal energy stored in the rubber band is transformed into chemical energy used by the propeller.

• Kinetic energy stored in the rubber band is transformed into thermal energy used by the propeller.

• Chemical energy stored in the rubber band is transformed into potential energy used by the propeller.

• Potential energy stored in the rubber band is transformed into mechanical energy used by the propeller.

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NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Which wave in the diagram has the greatest wavelength?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

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NGSS.MS-PS4-1

If the distance represented by the letter A were increased, how would it change the way the sound was heard?

• The sound would be higher. 

• The sound would be lower. 

• The sound would be softer. 

• The sound would be louder. 

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NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Height of a wave from resting position

• crest

• trough

• amplitude

• wavelength

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NGSS.MS-PS4-1

A car is traveling at a constant speed on a straight road. What mechanical principle explains why the car continues to move at the same speed?

• Newton's First Law of Motion

• Newton's Second Law of Motion

• Newton's Third Law of Motion

• Law of Conservation of Energy