# Homework Help: Calculating the Speed on a Roller Coaster

1. Jul 11, 2010

### ilovemynny

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
While most people like high speeds on roller coasters, it is actually the change in acceleration that thrills them. To add more thrills to a ride, a roller coaster designer has decided to make the downward descent from his first hill bumpy. The first 49 m of the track will be at an angle of 17 degrees , while the next 28 m will be at a 26 degrees angle. (Both angles measured from the horizontal.) Assuming that the riders started with a speed of 0 m/s at the top of the hill, calculate their speed after they have ridden the first 75m of track?

2. Relevant equations
H x sin = y

3. The attempt at a solution
H x sin = y
Y = 49 x sin 17
Y = 14 m
V = 2 x g x h, square root
V = 2 x 9.81 x 14, square root
V = 274.68, square root
V = 16.6 m/s

H x sin = y
Y = 28 x sin 26
Y = 12 m
V = 2 x g x h, square root
V = 2 x 9.81 x 12, square root
V = 235.44, square root
V = 15.3 m/s

15.3m/s + 16.6m/s = 31.9m/s
Final Speed: 31.9m/s

I was wondering if I did this problem right, and if not how am I supposed to solve it?

p.s. when i write, square root that means there is a square root in the equation :tongue:

2. Jul 12, 2010

### kuruman

You did not do it right. The expression

$$v=\sqrt{2gh}$$

works only if the initial speed vo is zero. So the first part of the calculation is correct but not the second. If I were you, I would use the overall change in height h in that expression and do it in one step. As long as the height change is the same, the specifics of the path do not matter. That's the beauty of mechanical energy conservation.

3. Jul 12, 2010

### ilovemynny

so then would it be like this:
75 x 2x 9.81, square root
1471.5, square root
and the final velocity is 38 m/s

4. Jul 12, 2010

### kuruman

Where did 75 come from in your expression?

5. Jul 12, 2010

### ilovemynny

it says calculate their speed after they have ridden the first 75m of track, and then you said it would be better to use the overall height

6. Jul 12, 2010

### kuruman

I said change in height, not distance traveled along the track. You need to calculate the overall change in height which you have already done. What do 14 m and 12 m represent?

7. Jul 12, 2010

### ilovemynny

ohhh okay 14 and 12 m represented the height
so then:
14 +12 = 26
so then 26 x 2 x 9.81 = 510
square root of 510 = 23m/s

so is 23 m/s the final velocity?

8. Jul 12, 2010

### kuruman

That looks about right, I got 22.8 m/s.

9. Jul 12, 2010

### ilovemynny

YES!!! thank you so much!!!