Question

can anyone help me with the roller coaster lab for physical science?

Answer 1

what are you doing?

Answer 2

May I see this problem?

Answer 3

2) Based on your observations, what is the relationship between potential and kinetic energy?

Answer 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 5

May I see your values? The work that you did?

Answer 6

And do you know the difference between Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy?

Answer 7

So for the first one... Potential Energy is at its greatest at the top of the track... respectively its kinetic energy is close to zero... When a cart is going down the track, its Potential Energy is converted to Kinetic Energy on its way down the hill, to the point where potential energy becomes zero.

Answer 8

They are proportional to each other in this sense.

For the next question, the amount of carts matters because the mass of the karts changes. Kinetic and Potential energy are both dependent on an objects mass. Also, the velocity in this case is dependent on its mass as well. If the height is not proportional to the energy of the cart system. It could fly off the track.

Imagine rotating a bucket of water over your head really fast in a circle. It doesn't spill, does it?

Now imagine doing it slowly... It spills ontop of you when it reaches its highest peak.

Answer 9

@masterkman i dont really understand the first one?

Answer 10

PE = mgh (mass x gravity x height)... PE is dependent on the height... The higher it is (and as long as the mass is the same or this is vice versa) the potential energy of a system is more.