How energy is transferred and transformed during a roller coaster ride:
- The ride often begins as a chain and motor (or other
mechanical device) exerting a force
on the train of cars to lift the train to the top of a hill.
- Once the cars are lifted to the top of the hill,
gravity takes over and the remainder of the ride is an experience in energy
transformation.
- At the top of the hill, the cars possess a large
quantity of potential energy. The
car's large quantity of potential energy is due to the fact that they are
elevated to a large height above the ground.
- As the cars descend the first drop they lose much of
this potential energy in accord with their loss of height. The cars
subsequently gain kinetic energy. The
train of coaster cars speeds up as they lose height. Thus, their original
potential energy (due to their large height) is transformed into kinetic energy
(revealed by their high speeds).
- As the ride continues, the train of cars are
continuously losing and gaining height. Each gain in height corresponds to the
loss of speed as kinetic energy (due to speed) is transformed into potential
energy (due to height).
- Each loss in height corresponds to a gain of speed
as potential energy (due to height) is transformed into kinetic energy (due to
speed). The transformation of mechanical
energy changes from the form of potential to the form of kinetic and vice
versa.
