# A 0.5 kg toy car is placed at the top of a 30° incline that is 1.2 m high. It is released from rest and rolls down to the bottom, where it compresses a spring of constant 200 N m⁻¹ until it comes to rest. Describe the energy changes that occur from the moment the car is released until it stops, and explain how the energy is stored before and after the compression of the spring.

> AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — 4.1.1 Energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before and after such changes · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Identify the initial potential energy of the car at the top of the incline.
2. State that the car’s potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as it rolls down.
3. Explain that when the car reaches the bottom, its kinetic energy is transferred to the spring as elastic potential energy.
4. Describe the final state where all the initial potential energy is stored as elastic potential energy in the spring.

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Physics (8463)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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