Using the picture of the roller coaster, calculate the KE at the bottom of the first hill.

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
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Chapter6: Energy Of A System
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Using the picture of the roller coaster, calculate the KE at the bottom of the first hill.

**Roller Coaster Energy Analysis**

**Description:**

This diagram illustrates a simplified roller coaster model used to demonstrate the concepts of potential and kinetic energy in a physics context. The roller coaster is represented as a series of curved lines that simulate the motion over two hills.

**Key Features:**

1. **Mass of the Coaster:**
   - The mass of the roller coaster is given as 500 kg. This is a crucial variable in calculating the potential energy at various points of the ride.

2. **First Hill:**
   - Height: 20 meters
   - The first hill is the tallest at 20 meters. This height allows the coaster to gain potential energy as it climbs.

3. **Second Hill:**
   - Height: 10 meters
   - The second hill is shorter, at 10 meters, and demonstrates how potential energy decreases with height.

4. **Reference Level:**
   - The baseline or ground level is marked as the reference level (0 m). Heights of the hills are measured from this level.

**Purpose of the Diagram:**

- **Energy Conversion:** As the roller coaster climbs the first hill, it gains potential energy due to its increased height. As it descends, this potential energy converts into kinetic energy, allowing the coaster to move faster. The change in energy exemplifies basic principles of energy conservation and transformation.
  
- **Height Impact:** The differing heights of the hills showcase how potential energy varies with height, impacting the roller coaster's speed and kinetic energy as it moves downhill.

This visual tool helps in understanding the foundational physics concepts of energy dynamics in a roller coaster system, emphasizing gravitational potential energy and its conversion into kinetic energy.
Transcribed Image Text:**Roller Coaster Energy Analysis** **Description:** This diagram illustrates a simplified roller coaster model used to demonstrate the concepts of potential and kinetic energy in a physics context. The roller coaster is represented as a series of curved lines that simulate the motion over two hills. **Key Features:** 1. **Mass of the Coaster:** - The mass of the roller coaster is given as 500 kg. This is a crucial variable in calculating the potential energy at various points of the ride. 2. **First Hill:** - Height: 20 meters - The first hill is the tallest at 20 meters. This height allows the coaster to gain potential energy as it climbs. 3. **Second Hill:** - Height: 10 meters - The second hill is shorter, at 10 meters, and demonstrates how potential energy decreases with height. 4. **Reference Level:** - The baseline or ground level is marked as the reference level (0 m). Heights of the hills are measured from this level. **Purpose of the Diagram:** - **Energy Conversion:** As the roller coaster climbs the first hill, it gains potential energy due to its increased height. As it descends, this potential energy converts into kinetic energy, allowing the coaster to move faster. The change in energy exemplifies basic principles of energy conservation and transformation. - **Height Impact:** The differing heights of the hills showcase how potential energy varies with height, impacting the roller coaster's speed and kinetic energy as it moves downhill. This visual tool helps in understanding the foundational physics concepts of energy dynamics in a roller coaster system, emphasizing gravitational potential energy and its conversion into kinetic energy.
Expert Solution
Step 1

Mass of roller coaster (m)=500 kg

Height of the first hill (h)=20 m

Acceleration due to gravity (g)=9.8 m/s2

Step 2

According to the law of conservation of energy, the potential energy of the roller coaster at the top of the hill will be converted into kinetic energy as soon as it descends to the bottom of the hill.

Therefore, this kinetic energy at the bottom of the hill will be;

K.E.=mgh

Substituting the values;

K.E.=500×9.8×20

K.E.=98 kJ

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