# A roller coaster car starts from rest at the top of a track and reaches the bottom of the track, moving at high speed. Describe the energy changes that take place as the car moves from the top to the bottom of the track. Include reference to any waste energy.

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

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Gravitational potential energy decreases / is transferred from the gravitational potential energy store
2. Kinetic energy of the car increases / energy is transferred to the kinetic energy store
3. Some energy is dissipated / transferred to the thermal energy store due to friction (between the car and the track / air resistance)
4. Total energy is conserved / the total energy at the bottom equals the total energy at the top (linking to conservation of energy)

## Key terms

- [waste energy](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/waste-energy)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Physics (8463)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" 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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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-roller-coaster-car-starts-from-01281512) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.