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Kinetic energy

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Q: What kind of energy keeps the roller coaster down the hill?
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What kind of energy happens when a roller coaster reaches the very top of the track just brfore it starts back down?

At that point the roller coaster car has maximum potential energy and zero kinetic energy.


When rolling downhill a rollar coasters potential energy is converted?

Yes. At the top of the hill, the potential energy is at a maximum. As the coaster is rolling down the hill, the potential energy (or energy due to the coaster's position or height), is converted into kinetic energy (as the roller coaster is rushing downhill). Hope this helps, physicsisland@hotmail.com


How do gravity and potential energy work together to give you a great ride on a roller coaster?

the gravitational potential energy of a roller coaster is equal to two things. Not only is it equal to the gravitational potential energy, it is also equal to the kinetic energy at the lowest point of the coaster. the gravitational potential energy can be calculated as: m*g*h where m is mass (kilograms), g is gravity (9.8 m/s^2), and h is height (metres).d the kinetic energy at the bottom of the coaster can be calculated as (m*v^2)/2 where m is mass (kilograms), v is velocity (metres/second).


How does Newton's Third Law relate to a rollercoaster?

Newton's second law (Force equals mass times acceleration, F = ma) deals with acceleration so it "takes effect" every time that the roller coaster speeds up, slows down or turns (horizontally or vertically).Basically Newton's second law just says that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force applied to the object and inversely proportional to the mass of the object. Or, in other words, the harder you push the faster it speeds up and the bigger it is the slower it speeds up (or slows down - deceleration is an acceleration).This means that in your roller coaster example, the object is the roller coaster and the force can be: The motors that start the coaster and lift it up hills. The brakes that slow it down. Gravity which pulls it down the hills. The rails and wheels which cause the roller coaster to turn around bends, etc. At each of these points, Newton's second law is at play, determining how much acceleration will result from the force applied to the roller coaster's mass.


Why is a roller coaster not in the first law of thermodynamics?

Actually it is. The first law of thermodynamics tells us that you have to put energy into the roller coaster (in this case in the form of work) to get it to the top of the first hill; getting it to the top increases its potential energy. Once it starts moving down, most of that potential energy is converted to kinetic energy as it moves around the track. Over the course of its circuit of the track, energy is continuously converted back and forth between potential and kinetic energy - with some energy also being converted to heat through friction with the rails and with the air. Energy is conserved - thus we see the first law obeyed.

Related questions

What keeps the cars down on a roller coaster?

Momentum


What keeps somebody from falling out of an upside down roller coaster?

inertia


What energy is in a roller coaster?

Potential energy is used when going up hill on a roller coaster. When it starts gong down the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.


Does the roller coaster need kinetic energy to move down the tracks?

If its moving it has kinetic energy


What is Thermal energy relating to a roller coaster?

Thermal energy is heat. Heat is associated with motion (like a roller coaster) because of friction. Friction slows down the speed of an object and changes some of its kinetic energy into heat.


What kind of energy happens when a roller coaster reaches the very top of the track just brfore it starts back down?

At that point the roller coaster car has maximum potential energy and zero kinetic energy.


What part of a roller coaster has the greatest potential?

When you are going down you have the most potential energy because the roller coaster and the speed is helping you go faster!


Does the gravitational energy goes up or down when the roller coaster goes down its track?

It goes left


Can you make a roller coaster go upside down in roller coaster tycoon 3?

Yes


How does potential energy and kinetic energy transfer as a roller coaster moves?

when it is high and stopped its potential when its going down is the kinetic


How does the law of conservation-of energy relate to roller coasters?

It is easier to see this using a traditional roller coaster model. Most traditional Roller Coasters start by using a tow cable to pull them up a large "hill". When being pulled up this hill, mechanical energy is being used to give the roller coaster potential energy. At the top of this hill, the roller coaster has it's maximum potential energy. As it starts to go down another hill, it picks up speed. During the descent it is losing potential energy but at the same time gaining kinetic energy. The coaster will then lose kinetic energy but gain potential energy as it goes up the next hill. This cycle of gaining/losing potential and kinetic energy is the conservation of energy that you are looking for. Of course in a real roller coaster, some energy will be lost due to friction. This will come off as heat in the rails and the wheels of the roller coaster and it's structure.


What does a roller coaster do?

Well, to understand what a roller coaster does you will need to understand what a roller coaster is. A roller coaster is a small vehicle that runs along a fixed track. What a roller coaster does is move along that fixed track at very high speeds, and many people find this very thrilling And if your wondering how a roller coaster works Well, there are 2 types of roller coaster, most commonly the Chain Lift, The chain lift works by hooks on the bottom of the roller coaster car that hook on to a roller chain (the type of chain you would find on a bicycle) and the chain pulls you all the way to the top of the big hill, This is the part where you hear all the clicking. As you start going down the big hill the hooks simply slide out of the chain and gravity starts to take over, but the roller coaster can stay moving because of Kinetic energy and Potential energy. So the 3 things that are very important to a Roller Coaster are Kinetic energy, Potential energy, and gravity. A roller coaster works sort of like rolling a ball down a hill. For info on the launched roller coaster check out the related links.