Can a Roller Coaster's Loop Height Affect the Force on the Track?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the force exerted by a roller coaster track on a car at the top of a loop. The car has a mass of 1216 kg and starts from a height of 32 m above the bottom of a loop with a diameter of 25 m. The initial calculation of kinetic energy was incorrect due to misunderstanding the change in height, which should be 32 m - 25 m. The correct approach involves using the formula for gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy to find the velocity at the top of the loop. Ultimately, the correct delta height is confirmed to be 7 m.
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A roller coaster car of mass 1216 kg slides on
a frictionless track starting at a distance 32 m
above the bottom of a loop 25 m in diameter.
The acceleration of gravity is 9.81 m/s^2

If friction is negligible, what is the magni-
tude of the force of the track on the car when
the car is at the top of the loop? Answer in
units of N.

Fn=(mv^2) /R - Fg

mgh = .5mv^2

v^2= 2gh = 2*9.81*32 = 627.84

Fn = (1216*627.84)/12.5m - (1216*9.81)

= 49147.3152N ?

apparently this is wrong. What did i do wrong?
 
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Your error was in calculating the KE at the top of the loop:
mg \Delta h = 1/2 m v^2

\Delta h is not 32 m!
 
hoseA said:
v^2= 2gh = 2*9.81*32 = 627.84 ...

is this the velocity at the top.
 
A bit slow in typing then Doc Al.:smile:
 
Doc Al said:
Your error was in calculating the KE at the top of the loop:
mg \Delta h = 1/2 m v^2
\Delta h is not 32 m!

I presume delta h is then 32m - 25m ?

Thanks for the help.
 
hoseA said:
I presume delta h is then 32m - 25m ?
That's correct.
 
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