Question

A rollercoaster is at the top of a 72-meter hill and has a potential energy of 170,000 J. Using g = 10 m/s², what is the mass of the rollercoaster?

A. 1700 kg
B. 1800 kg
C. 1900 kg
D. 2000 kg

Answer 1

The mass of the rollercoaster is approximately 236.11 kg.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the mass of the rollercoaster, we can use the equation for potential energy: PE = mgh, where PE is potential energy, m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is height. We can rearrange the equation to solve for mass: m = PE / (gh). Plugging in the given values, we have: m = 170,000 J / (10 m/s² * 72 m) = 236.11 kg. Rounded to the nearest hundredth, the mass of the rollercoaster is approximately 236.11 kg.