# Roller Coaster

1. Dec 9, 2004

### lidomonkee

It's all still so confusing! Setting up the equation isn't the problem.. plugging in the numbers. I'm missing varibables and I don't know where to go to find themm

i. if the spring constant is 2000 N/m how far will the spring have to compress to bring the coaster to a stop? (Asume the weight of the coaster and passengers to be 45,000 N)

ii. if the spring dissipates half the available energy as heat, how far will your ride go *after released by the spring) before it stops or begins to roll forward? Show full calculations including point on scaled ddrawing of where the coaster would stop. (Don't forget friction)

I'm being told all these different equations KE = EPE + Heat
F = -kx F = kx Ke = (mv^2)/r I don't know what I'm doing at all

How do I find velocity?? it no where to be found, *sigh* so confused...

Last edited: Dec 10, 2004
2. Dec 10, 2004

### futb0l

i. $$F = kx$$
$$45000 = 2000x$$

ii. HINT: The potential energy of a spring is:
$$U = \frac{1}{2}kx^2$$

You should be able to figure it out.