Question

Which of the following statements from "Roller Coaster Physics" BEST explains gravity’s effect on a person riding a roller coaster?

a) Once the train cars crest the lift hill, gravity pulls the front of the train down the tracks.
b) Gravity is channeled through the train tracks.
c) Once down the lift hill, the next hill causes gravity to place a downward force on the back of the train, causing deceleration.
d) As the train climbs another hill and experiences deceleration, the body no longer feels the push of gravity, but the next ride down a hill brings back the sensation.

Answer 1

The best explanation of gravity's effect on a person riding a roller coaster is that gravity pulls the front of the train down the tracks once it crests the lift hill, converting potential energy into kinetic energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement from "Roller Coaster Physics" that BEST explains gravity’s effect on a person riding a roller coaster is: a) Once the train cars crest the lift hill, gravity pulls the front of the train down the tracks. This statement accurately describes the role of gravity in propelling the train forward after reaching the apex of the ride. When the roller coaster train crests the lift hill, gravity takes over and pulls the front of the train downward, accelerating it along the tracks. This downward pull converts the train's potential energy at the top of the hill into kinetic energy as the train descends. In the context of roller coaster physics, it is important to understand that the sensation of gravity felt by passengers is due to the changes in velocity and direction as the train moves along the track, and that gravity constantly acts downwards, ensuring the roller coaster continues to move after the initial lift.

Answer 2

The best explanation for gravity's effect on roller coaster riders is that gravity pulls the front of the train down the tracks, converting potential energy into kinetic energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that BEST explains gravity’s effect on a person riding a roller coaster is “a) Once the train cars crest the lift hill, gravity pulls the front of the train down the tracks”. When the coaster reaches the top of a hill, it has a high amount of gravitational potential energy due to its elevation. As it descends, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion, speeding up the train as it goes downhill.

Roller coaster physics are governed by these principles, where energy transformation and the forces exerted by gravity play critical roles in the coaster's motion. Gravity constantly acts on the train and the riders, pulling them towards the Earth, which is what gives riders the thrilling sensation of falling as they plummet down the slopes of the roller coaster.