Question

Use the law of conservation of energy (assume no friction nor air resistance) to determine the kinetic and potential energy at the various marked positions along the roller coaster track below: KE= ME PER KE PE=20 000J KE=25 000J PE= mgh PE=_ KE= KE KE=OJ PE-7 500J PE=5 000J PE- D Ε. Voc KE=/m 12 KE- PEN KE=_ PE=__ KE=40 000J PE=OJ What is the total mechanical energy of the roller coaster throughout the ride? Explain how you determined ME.​

Answer 1

Answer:

Part A

1) At the starting point, we have;

PE = 40,000 J

2) PE = 0 J, KE = 40,000 J

3) KE = 20,000 J

4) PE = 15,000 J

5) KE = 32,500 J

6) KE = 40,000 J, PE = 0 J

7) KE = 35,000 J

8) KE = 40,000 J, PE = 0 J

Part B

The total Mechanical Energy = ME = 40,000 J

At the final point, we have;

ME = KE + PE = 40,000 J + 0 J = 40,000 J

Explanation:

Part A

By the law of conservation of energy, we have;

ME = PE + KE

Where;

ME = The total Mechanical Energy of the system

PE = The Potential Energy of the system

KE = The Kinetic Energy of the system

Where there is no friction, we have;

At the final stage, KE = 40,000 J. PE = 0 J

Therefore, ME = PE + KE = 40,000 J + 0 J = 40,000 J

1) At the starting point, we have;

KE = 0 J, therefore, PE = ME - KE = 40,000 J - 0 J = 40,000 J

2) At the bottom of the roller coaster, at the same level the PE is taken as PE = 0 J at the final stage, we have;

PE = 0 J, therefore, KE = ME - PE = 40,000 J - 0 J = 40,000 J

3) Where PE = 20,000 J, KE = ME - PE = 40,000 J - 20,000 J = 20,000 J

4) Where KE = 25,000 J, PE = ME - KE = 40,000 J - 25,000 J = 15,000 J

5) Where PE = 7,500 J, KE = ME - PE = 40,000 J - 7,500 J = 32,500 J

6) At the bottom KE = 40,000 J, PE = 0 J

7) Where PE = 5,000 J, KE = ME - PE = 40,000 J - 5,000 J = 35,000 J

8) KE = 40,000 J, PE = 0 J

Part B

The given that there is no friction nor air resistance, the total Mechanical Energy, ME, is constant and equal to the sum of the Potential Energy, PE and the Kinetic Energy, KE, as follows;

ME = KE + PE

At the final point, we have;

ME = 40,000 J + 0 J = 40,000 J

The total Mechanical Energy = ME = 40,000 J