Question

On a roller coaster, describe the kinetic and potential energy of the car at the top of the first hill, the bottom of the first drop, and later in the ride. What effect does friction have on the car throughout the ride? Enter your answer in the space provided.

Answer 1

The total amount of energy is the same throughout the ride, when going to the top of the hill and slowing down the kinetic energy is decreasing while the potential energy increases. Once the roller coaster is a the peak of the hill nearly all of the kinetic energy is transferred to potential energy, the reason all of it is not is because the roller coaster does not completely stop. Once the roller coaster goes down the hill, the potential energy that was built up from the climb of the hill is transferred to kinetic energy and the coaster goes fast, eventually the roller coaster slows down the roller coaster, the reason is because of friction. Another reason the roller coaster would slow down is due to it climbing another hill.

Answer 2

The total amount of energy stays the same, but throughout the ride, the kinetic energy and the potential energy change, still adding up to the same number. At the top of the ride it has potential energy, and as it goes down the potential energy decreases and the kinetic energy increases. When it’s at the bottom of the first drop it has maxed out its kinetic energy, and minimized its potential energy. Friction slows down the car, and pushes on the cart with a force that is equal and opposite to the force being exerted in the track. The reason the track keeps going is because though it exerts and equal and opposite force the momentum of the objects is different, allowing the car to continue moving, however friction will slow it down until eventually it comes to a stop.