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A marble is released from higher up a ramp. Why does it push the cup further?
AIt starts with less stored energy
BIt has a much greater mass
CIt has a much smaller size
DIt starts with more stored energy
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. It starts with more stored energy
1. Energy is not created by the ramp, it is only stored and then released.
2. A marble held higher up the ramp starts with more stored energy.
3. Rolling down turns that stored energy into movement energy.
4. The marble therefore reaches the bottom moving faster than before.
5. More movement energy is passed on to the cup when the two collide.
6. So the cup is pushed further across the table.
7. The same marble is used every time, so its mass and its size never change.
_Source: Siyavula Natural Sciences Grade 7 (CC BY 4.0), How can we make the foam cup move further?_