1. Why is the energy that results from a roller coaster's position at the top of a hill referred to as potential energy? Type your answer here.

Potential energy is called so because it represents the stored energy of an object based on its position in a gravitational field. When a roller coaster reaches the top of a hill, it has the potential to convert this stored energy into kinetic energy as it plunges downwards. The higher the coaster, the more gravitational potential energy it possesses, just waiting to be unleashed on the thrilling descent! When thinking about roller coasters, it's fun to imagine that potential energy is like a tightly wound spring. The potential is just waiting to be released when the coaster moves down the hill. The quick transformation from high potential energy at the top to kinetic energy during the descent creates the breathtaking rush that riders love!