Soren Odonnell

Physics

22 January, 17:04

Student A: As the skater moves along the track, some of her kinetic energy is converted to thermal energy, so she will lose energy, causing the total energy of the system to decrease. Because the total energy of the system decreases, the skater will not be able to use as much energy to get up the track and will not get back up to her original starting height on the far side of the track.

Student B: As the skater moves along the track, friction will transform some of her kinetic and potential energy into thermal energy, but the total energy of the skater-track system still remains the same. Since the total energy of the system is still the same, the skater will still be able to make it to the top (5m) of the far side of the track.

Evaluate each student's claim and reasoning by identifying the parts you agree or disagree with, and explain your own reasoning.