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.

How much work was done on the cart to get it to that height?
A. 1,100 J
B. 3,200 J
C. 9,800 J
D. 5,300 J

Answer 1

The work done to lift a 200 kg roller coaster cart to a height of 5 m is calculated using the formula for gravitational potential energy, resulting in 9,800 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

The work done on the cart to get it to a height of 5 m can be calculated using the formula: Work = Force x Distance x cos(theta). In this case, the force acting on the cart is the weight of the cart, which can be calculated using the formula: weight = mass x gravitational acceleration. The distance is the height the cart is lifted, which is 5 m. Theta is the angle between the force and the direction of motion, which is 0 degrees since the force is acting vertically. Therefore, the work done is Work = (mass x gravitational acceleration) x 5 x cos(0). Substituting the given values, we have Work = (200 kg x 9.8 m/s^2) x 5 x 1. Simplifying the equation, we get Work = 9800 J. Therefore, the correct answer is option C. 9,800 J.