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

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on calculating the energy or power required to accelerate a roller coaster on a flat track, specifically addressing the parameters of mass, time to reach top speed, distance, and velocity. The context involves applying physics principles to a practical scenario in engineering.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, Newme, seeks guidance on calculating energy for a roller coaster on a flat track, noting the mass, time, distance, and velocity.
  • Another participant suggests using the formula f=ma, implying a relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
  • A subsequent post reiterates the formula f=ma and introduces w=fd, which relates work to force and distance.
  • Another participant recommends adding the equation P=fv, which connects power to force and velocity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on a specific method for calculating the energy required, as participants provide different formulas without resolving which is most applicable to the scenario.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not clarify the assumptions behind the suggested formulas or their applicability to the specific case of a flat track. There are also no details on how to handle the transition from the formulas provided to a final calculation.

newme
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
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
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Thanks

russ_watters said:
f=ma
w=fd

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

Similar threads

Roller coaster mock Lab Report
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
993
Undergrad How Do Gravity and Acceleration Interact on a Roller Coaster?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Undergrad Roller coasters: would we fall out without restraints?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
Stainless Steel track surface grade to match a 440C roller?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
Minimum safe height for a roller coaster
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
6K
High School Making A Small Roller Coaster - A couple of questions (please answer )
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
5K
Friction between roller coaster and track
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
8K
Undergrad Roller Coaster Physics: Finding Final Velocity
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
Undergrad Does Eddy Current Braking on Roller Coasters Involve Constant Acceleration?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Roller coaster physics conceptual question
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K