Question

Help please? Four Questions!

Answer 1

1) What kind of energy is gained when your roller coaster goes uphill?
2) 2) Based on your observations, what is the relationship between potential and kinetic energy?
3) If friction was completely removed from the track, what affect would this have on the roller coaster ride?
4) 4) Why does the number of carts matter when designing a roller coaster track ?
(Hint: PE = mass x gravity x height and KE – ½ mass x velocity ^2)

Answer 2

1) raising a body higher above the ground increases its potential energy (it is a result of the gravitational field of the Earth)

2) The sum of kinetic and potential energy is always constant. It is the ration of the two that changes. When the roller coaster goes upwards, it slows down, so its kinetic energy becomes lower while the potential one, as we already said, is increasing.

3) Friction is the force that occurs from the interaction of two surfaces. It is directed opposite to the direction of motion, so it slows down the object. Had there been no friction, a body in motion would keeps its steady motion infinitely at a constant speed in a constant direction, until it reacts with another object. (Newton's first law)

4) The number of cars determines the mass of the roller coaster. Mass appears both in the formulas for potential and for kinetic energy, therefore it affects them both.

Answer 3

Thank you.

Answer 4

@suzanka is correct on all accounts.
Was there something you needed clarification on @blah124 ?