A car on a roller coaster starts at zero speed at an elevation above the ground of 26 m. It coasts down a slope, and then climbs a hill. The top of the hill is at an elevation of 16 m. What is the speed of the car at the top of the hill? Neglect any frictional effects.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using conservation of energy, the potential energy lost is converted to kinetic energy. The speed at the top of the hill is calculated using the equation: v = sqrt(2g(h1-h2)), where h1 = 26 m, h2 = 16 m, and g = 9.8 m/s². This gives v = sqrt(2*9.8*(26-16)) = 14 m/s.

A Car on a Roller Coaster Starts at Zero Speed