Question

A roller coaster cart with a mass of 200 kg is at rest on its track at a height of 5 m above the ground.

Later the same 200 kg cart reaches a lower part of the track and is traveling at a velocity of 6.0 m/s.
How much potential energy does the cart have now?

Answer 1

The potential energy (PE) of a roller coaster cart, determined by the formula PE = mgh, is calculated as 9800 J. With a mass of 200 kg and a height of 5 m above the ground, the potential energy represents the energy stored in the cart due to its position relative to a reference level.

Step-by-step explanation:

The potential energy of an object is given by the equation PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height above some reference level. In this case, the mass of the roller coaster cart is 200 kg and the height above the ground is 5 m. Therefore, the potential energy of the cart is PE = 200 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * 5 m = 9800 J. So, the cart has a potential energy of 9800 J.