Roller Coaster Review

Roller Coaster Review

Use the diagram of the roller coaster to answer the following questions, assuming the mass of the roller coaster to be 650-kg.

1.  Show the energy changes that roller coaster car undergoes, given the heights show in the diagram(s)

  1. Calculate the gravitational potential energy, the kinetic energy and the total energy at point A. Show your work!
  1. Calculate the gravitational potential energy, the kinetic energy and the total energy at point C. Show your work!
  1. Calculate the gravitational potential energy, the kinetic energy and the total energy at each remaining point. You do not need to show your work, unless you want to.

Point / GPE / KE / Total Energy
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
  1. Explain your general approach, justifying your reasoning.

2.  Calculate the velocities at each position. Show your work for one point. Add a column to the table above to record your results.

3.  The first incline determines the speed for the rest of the ride.

  1. Why is this statement true?
  1. Calculate the work needed to bring the coaster up the first hill.
  1. If the designers desired to use a minimum amount of power to bring the coaster up the first hill (without changing the height of the hill itself), what should they do?

4.  List 3 things that the designers can do to increase the thrill factor of the roller coaster.

5.  Using the points on the roller coaster as a reference,

  1. At which points on the ride will the rider feel:
  2. Heavier? ______
  3. Lighter? ______
  4. Normal? ______
  5. Provide evidence for your reasoning at points A, B, and E.

6.  Is this roller coaster safe?

  1. How do you know if the roller coaster is safe?
  1. Provide evidence at key positions.

7.  If the emergency braking system uses a spring with a force constant of 20,000 N/m,

  1. how much distance will the riders need to stop? Show your work!
  1. Is this safe? If not, explain what can be done to make it more safe. If yes, explain why.
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