Roller Coasters Research Paper

A roller coaster is an amusement park ride for thrill-seekers. All roller coasters follow the law of conservation of energy, which is : energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but can be transformed into another form. The two most important forms of energy in roller coasters are kinetic and potential energy. Potential energy is energy that an object has because of its height. It is equal to the object's mass x the object’s height x the gravitational constant (PE = mgh; x = multiplication). The gravitational constant on Earth is 9.81 m/s2. It shows that if you were to fall, at terminal velocity, you would fall at 9.81 m/s2. The potential energy of the cart is greatest at the highest point of the roller coaster and the least at the lowest

The use of these mechanisms allow the roller coasters to reach high speeds in a short amount of time. Formula Rossa, which is the world’s fastest roller coaster, implements LIMs and LSMs to reach its high speeds.

Newtons law and roller coasters

Roller coasters are one of the best uses for Newton’s three laws of motion for having a fun time. Roller coasters use Newton’s three laws to push people past their body’s usual limits. Let me explain how all of the laws are used below.

Newton’s first law (Law of Inertia): Roller coasters work because of the Law of Inertia. Since the cart (which is at rest) stays at rest, roller coasters have to be pushed/pulled to start. Most roller coasters start by being are pulled up a lift hill. This is normally the biggest hill in the ride. As the cars go pulled up, they gain potential energy. At the peak, the carts have the highest amount of potential energy. Roller coaster carts gain sufficient energy from the lift hill, so that they can be powered throughout the ride. Once the carts are in motion, they won’t stop unless the brakes are applied at the end of the