Question

A children's roller coaster is released from the top of a track. If its maximum speed at ground level is 3 m/s, find the height it was released from.

Answer 1

Answer:

h = 0.46 m

Explanation:

According to the law of conservation of energy:

Potential Energy Lost by Roller Coaster = Kinetic Energy Gained by Roller Coaster

$mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2\\\\2gh = v^2\\\\h = \frac{v^2}{2g}$

where,

h = height = ?

v = speed at bottom = 3 m/s

g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s²

Therefore,

$h = \frac{(3\ m/s)^2}{(2)(9.81\ m/s^2)}$

h = 0.46 m