When a speeding roller-coaster car is at the bottom of a loop, the magnitude of the normal force exerted on the car's wheels due to its interaction with the track is
A) Greater than the weight of the car and its passengers.
B) Equal to the weight of the car and its passengers.
C) Less than the weight of the car and its passengers.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

At the bottom of a loop, the normal force must not only support the weight of the roller-coaster car and its passengers but also provide the centripetal force necessary to keep the car moving in a circular path. Therefore, the normal force is greater than the weight of the car and its passengers.

When a Speeding Roller-Coaster Car Is at the Bottom of a Loop