Download 1 Conservation of Mechanical Energy Date ____

Conservation of Mechanical Energy Date _____________
Analyzing the motion of objects involving kinetic, gravitational potential, and elastic energies is relatively simple. Situations with other forms of energy such as chemical energy is not easy.
We can ignore these other forms of energy if their influence is negligible or if they are not relevant to the situation being analyzed. We will analyze some situations involving translational kinetic and gravitational energy. We will ignore any effects of friction.
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Below is a diagram of a roller coaster. We will assume that friction is negligible.
1) Describe the energy conversion from gravitational potential energy to translational kinetic energy throughout the coaster ride.
h = 0 m
2) Where is the gravitational potential energy the greatest? Why?
3) Where is the translational kinetic energy the greatest? Why?
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4) What is the sum of the potential and kinetic energy called?
5) For the above problem, what is this quantity?
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Calculate the indicated quantities for a 1,000 kg coaster.
5) What is the height at the start of the coaster? (A)
6) What is the speed at the start of the coaster? (B)
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7) What is the translational KE at the top of the loop? (C)
8) What is the height at the top of the loop? (D)
9) What is the speed of the coaster? (E)
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10) What is the translational KE at the end of the ride? (F)
11 What is the PE at the end of the ride? (G)
12) What is the speed at the end of the ride? (H)
13) If the angle of the initial drop in the diagram was 60 degrees and all the other factors were kept constant, would the speed at the bottom of the hill be any different? Explain
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A frictionless roller coaster of mass m = 1000.0 kg. tops the first hill with speed v1 = 10.00 m/s. Assume the first hill is h = 100.0 m tall.
1) What is the mechanical energy of this system?
2) What is the speed of the coaster at point B?
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3) What is the speed of the coaster at point C?
4) How high will the coaster go on the last hill?
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