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(Solved): Problem 5: Consider the roller coaster that moves along the track shown in the figure. Assume all f ...
Problem 5: Consider the roller coaster that moves along the track shown in the figure. Assume all friction is negligible and ignore the kinetic energy of the roller coaster's wheels. (a) Is the mechanical energy of the roller coaster conserved? (b) Add a coordinate system to the sketch. (c) If the roller coaster starts from rest at location , what is its total mechanical energy at point A? (d) If is the speed at point , what is the total me (e) Find the speed of the roller coaster when it reach
Expert Answer
(a) Since there is no friction or any nonconservative force acting on the roller coaster, there is no loss in the mechanical energy of the roller coaster. As it goes down, the potential energy decreases but it gains some speed such that the decrease in potential energy is equal to an increase in its kinetic energy.