Question

A roller coaster's highest hill is always the first one. This is because friction pulls energy out of the coaster as it moves along a track. If the highest hill of a particular roller coaster is 16 m, and the if the coaster comes to rest at the top of the final hill which is 7 m tall. How much energy was lost due to friction along the way? The roller coaster has a mass of 172 kg.

Answer 1

15186 J energy lost due to friction

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

- Height of the tallest hill (first) h_1 = 16 m

- Height of the last hill h_2 = 7 m

- Velocity @tallest hill = 0

- Velocity @last hill = 0

Find:

How much energy was lost due to friction can be determined from an energy balance at point on top of tallest hill and on top of last hill:

E_p,1 + E_k,1 = E_p,2 + E_k,2 + E_f

Where, E_k,1 = E_k,2 = 0

E_p,1 - E_p,2 = E_f

E_f = m*g*(h_1 - h_2)

E_f = 172*9.81*(16 - 7)

E_f = 15186 J