Calculate Speed at Top of Roller Coaster 2nd Hill (5.5m)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the speed of a roller coaster at the top of its second hill, which is 5.5 meters high. The problem involves concepts from energy conservation, specifically potential and kinetic energy, as the coaster moves through different elevations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply conservation of energy principles to find the speed at the top of the second hill, questioning the relevance of the coaster's mass in the calculations. Some participants discuss the implications of constant acceleration due to gravity.

Discussion Status

Participants have provided feedback on the calculations presented, with one confirming the original poster's final answer. There is an ongoing exploration of the role of mass in the problem, suggesting a productive dialogue about the assumptions involved.

Contextual Notes

The original poster's calculations involve specific heights and speeds, and there is a mention of the coaster's mass, which is questioned for its significance in the context of the problem.

cowgiljl
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The mass of the coaster is 800 kg
The lift hill is 18 m highabd it goes up the lift hill at 2.50 m/s
The second hill is 5.5m high.

Wants to know the speed at the top of the second hill.
do i really care about the weight of the car?

This is what i have so far

PEtop1 +KEtop1 = KE bott
2*9.80*18 +2.5^2 = v^2 bott
V bott = 18.9 m/s

second formula was
Ke bott - Pe top1 = KE top 2
18.9^2 - 2*9.80*5.5 = V^2 top 2

Vtop 2 = 15.9 m/s and that is my final answer is that look right

thanks
 
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Yep...answer looks right to me.
 
thanks

thanks hindi
 
I believe the mass doesn't matter in this problem because the coaster is under constant acceleration for the whole run (gravity).
 

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