Roller Coaster Challenge Problem #1

Son Of Beast Roller Coaster
Challenge #1

The longest drop of any wooden roller coaster is the Son Of Beast in Ohio, USA. The drop is a scary 65 metres. This roller coaster is also the fastest (126 km/hr) of any wooden roller coaster.

(a) If we assume no air or other friction and that is started at the highest point with little or no velocity, calculate the theoretical maximum velocity at the bottom of the drop (in m/s and km/h)

 

(b) What percent of the energy was actually lost due to friction?

 

(c) Calculate the apparent average force of friction that the rollercoaster experiences while going down this drop

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