What is the formula for finding the speed of a roller coaster at point A?

AI Thread Summary
To find the speed of a roller coaster at point A, given an initial speed of 10 m/s and a height of 100 m, the conservation of energy principle can be applied. The calculations indicate that the final velocity at the starting point is 45.4 m/s, derived from the equation vf^2 = vo^2 + 2a(deltaH). The discussion emphasizes using the initial velocity and gravitational acceleration consistently across different heights. There is also a caution against misinterpreting gravitational acceleration as a variable rather than a constant. The conversation highlights the importance of correctly applying physics principles to solve for the coaster's speed at various points.
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Roller coaster Vel. Initial=10m/s, Height initial=100m, and the mass of the coaster is 1000kg all at the starting point (*).
Have to find the speed of coaster at point A, point A's height is the same as the starting points, b is 1/2 of a's height, c's height is zero.
Coaster kinda looks like: * is starting point

........../
..._*_..._A_....../
.../----\.../---\..._B_.../
.../------\__/-----\__/----\.../
__/-------------------------\_c_/


I found Vf of the starting point with vf^2=vo^2+2 a deltaH
and used that Vel for Vo when i do it again but for point h.
what should I do?, my Vf of the starting point i got was 45.4m/s
 
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vf^2 = vo^2+ 2*a*(xi-xf)

Vo = 10 each time
a = 9.81 each time
xi = 100 each time
xf = height above ground

this should work
 
what about conservation of energy?
 
I hope ViewtifulBeau realizes that that equation
comes from (as a special case) Energy conservation.

I DO wish you folks would stop treating "g" as an acceleration!
 
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