Question

The Wild Thing roller coaster at Valleyfair has a mass of 965 kg. The highest drop, the first hill, is 63 meters high. The top speed of the roller coaster is 32.9 m/s. What is the gravitational potential energy of the coaster when it is stopped at the top of the first hill?

a. 1,934,950 J
b. 1,965,733 J
c. 1,735,949 J
d. 1,957,394 J

Answer 1

The gravitational potential energy of the coaster at the top of the first hill is 1,934,950 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the gravitational potential energy of the roller coaster at the top of the first hill, we can use the formula:

Gravitational Potential Energy = mass * acceleration due to gravity * height

Given that the mass of the roller coaster is 965 kg, the height of the first hill is 63 meters, and the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s^2, we can substitute these values into the formula:

Gravitational Potential Energy = 965 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * 63 meters = 1,934,950 J

Therefore, the gravitational potential energy of the coaster when it is stopped at the top of the first hill is approximately 1,934,950 J.