# A child pushes a toy car along a flat surface and releases it. The car travels a short distance and then comes to a stop. Explain the energy transfers that take place from when the child pushes the car until it comes to rest.

> OCR GCSE Physics A: Gateway Science (J249) — P5.1 Energy stores and transfers · Explain · 4 marks

> A toy car is pushed along a flat, rough surface and released. It travels a short distance before stopping completely.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Work is done by the child's force on the car, transferring energy to the car's kinetic energy store
2. As the car moves, friction acts between the wheels/car and the surface
3. Kinetic energy is transferred to thermal (heat) energy stores of the car/surface
4. This is a waste energy transfer / the total energy is conserved (not destroyed) but dissipated to the surroundings

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR GCSE Physics A: Gateway Science (J249)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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