Roller Coaster Challenge Problem #2

Steel Dragon Roller Coaster
Challenge #2

The longest drop of any steel roller coaster is the Steel Dragon in Japan.  The drop is a blood curdling 93 meters. This roller coaster is also the fastest (153 km/hr), and the longest (2.5 km) of any steel 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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