An engineer is investigating potential energy with two identical magnetic roller coaster cars on different sides of a center magnet that cannot move. To test her ideas, the engineer will move one car one space. Which movement will result in the largest increase in potential energy?
a Moving Car 1 one space toward the center magnet.
b Moving Car 2 one space away from the center magnet.
c Moving Car 2 one space toward the center magnet.
d All these movements will result in the same change in potential energy because they each move a roller coaster car the same distance.
An engineer is investigating potential energy with two identical magnetic roller coaster cars on different sides of a center magnet that cannot move. To test her ideas, the engineer will move one car one space. Which movement will result in the largest increase in potential energy?
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The correct answer is c Moving Car 2 one space toward the center magnet.
Explanation: Potential energy in the context of magnets depends on the position of the objects relative to the magnetic field. When Car 2 moves toward the center magnet, it is moving into a stronger magnetic field, which increases its potential energy due to the magnetic attraction. In contrast, moving Car 1 toward the center does not affect its energy increase as substantially, and moving either car away from the magnet would decrease their potential energy. Thus, moving Car 2 toward the magnet yields the largest increase in potential energy.