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In the case of the roller coaster car slowing down, there is an applied force doing work upon it. The applied force is a non-conservative force and serves to change the total mechanical energy of the object. The amount of work done can be calculated (see Formula Frenzy section). Being a resistive force, the work will remove mechanical energy from the object. There will be an overall loss in energy - either due to a loss of kinetic energy, potential energy or both. The track is said to be level, so there is no loss in potential energy. The work done must be equal to the loss in kinetic energy. The final kinetic energy can be determined from the work done and the initial kinetic energy value.
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