Answer:
Explanation:
Without friction, a roller coaster continuously converts potential energy to kinetic energy and back again. Total energy will be constant.
Let m be the mass of the car and ground level is the origin.
on the 5.5 m hill, total energy is
E = PE + KE
E = mgh + ½mv²
E = m(9.8)(5.5) + ½m(9.3)² = 97m J
a) The maximum height will occur when the total energy is all potential energy.
E = mgh
h = E/mg
h = 97m/m(9.8) = 9.9 m
As this value is greater than the height of the third hill at 5.5 + 4.0 = 9.5 m The car will cross the last hill with some remaining velocity in kinetic energy.
b) As 9.5 m is greater than 9.3 m, the 9.5 m hill will have more of the total energy of the system as potential energy, This mean there is less kinetic energy and therefore less velocity (and speed) on top of the 9.5 m hill.
c) KE = E - PE
KE = 97m - m(9.8)(9.5 - 1.0)
KE = 97m = 83.3m
KE = 13.7m = ½mv²
v² = √(2(13.7)
v = 5.2345...
v = 5.2 m/s