How to Calculate Energy Required to Accelerate a Roller Coaster on a Flat Track?

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the energy required to accelerate a roller coaster on a flat track, the key parameters include mass, time to reach top speed, distance, and velocity. The mass of the roller coaster is approximately 4500 kg, with a top speed reached in 2.64 seconds over a distance of 125 meters, resulting in a velocity of 47.248 m/s. Since there is no height involved, the gravitational potential energy formula is not applicable. Instead, the discussion suggests using the formulas for force (f=ma) and work (w=fd) to determine energy, along with power (P=fv) for further calculations. This approach allows for an accurate assessment of the energy needed for acceleration on a flat track.
newme
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Hey
How can i calculate the amount of energy/power required to accelerate my roller coaster on a flat track.
Mass=4500 approximate when loaded
Time=2.64secs to reach top speed
Distance=125m
Velocity=47.248ms-1
I know how to calculate it for a track that rises i can use M*G*H/Time
but my height is 0 so i don't know what to do.
Thanks Newme
 
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Thanks

russ_watters said:
f=ma
w=fd

Ok thanks i will try that out
 
You may want to add P=fv
 

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