Question

At the top of a looped section of roller coaster track, the car and rider are completely upside down. Engineers calculated that the car may travel a minimum speed of 14.3 m/s to keep riders from falling out of the car at the top of the loop. What is the radius of the loop? 22.5 m 18.9 m 17.4 m 20.9 m

Answer 1

m v^2 / R = m g where gravitational force provides centripetal force

R = v^2 / g = 14.3^2 m/s / 9.8 m/s^2 = 20.9 m