Question

Read the scenario and solve these two problems.

When traveling at top speed, a roller coaster train with a mass of 12,000 kg has a velocity of 30 m/s. The kinetic energy of the train at top speed is
J.

Given this kinetic energy, what is the tallest hill this roller coaster train can reach the top of?

The train can climb a hill that is
m high.

Answer 1

KE = 1/2 m v^2 = 0.5(12,000 kg)(30 m/s)^2 = 5.4×10^6 J.

Max height from mgh = KE → h = KE/(m g) = (5.4×10^6 J)/(12,000 kg · 9.8 m/s^2) ≈ 45.9 m ≈ 46 m.