This is the question I posted about two hours ago and I worked it out two ways-could you scroll down and check it, please?If I have a roller coaster, and hill 1 height is 50cm and hill height 2 is 25 cm and the PE is .9 as it approaches the top of hill 2, how do I calculate the speed. PE first hill was 18

Please help

Physics-Please help - bobpursley, Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 5:52pm
THe PE is .9 where? Where did the coaster start?

Physics-Please help - Joey, Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 5:54pm
The coaster started at .18PE-the .9 is the PE at the top of the second hill.The second hill is lower.

Physics-Please help - bobpursley, Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 6:01pm
Well, the difference in the two Potential energies is now KEnergy, 1/2 mv^2, solve for v.

Physics-Please check - Joey, Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 6:21pm
. The way to calculate this is you take the KE would be .9. You would say .9 = ½ (.035 x v^2) = 2.215. Correct or no?

Physics-Please check - Joey, Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 7:31pm
Should I have done this as 1/2mv^2 = mgh
Cross out like terms and get to v^2 = square root of 2 x g x .25m(h)= 2.125 m/s

Would this be correct?

2 answers

First, you have so many math errors it hurts.

If 1/2 mv^2=.9J
then v^2=2*.9/.035
v=7.17m/s I have no idea where you got 2.215m/s

You have told me several things about the initial PE
a) it was a height of .5m (PE= .035*9.8*.5 = .17J ( you indicated in your solution mass was .035kg, I am not certain where that came from)
b) it was 18J
c) it was .9J at a hill half the height.

So I don't know if it is right or not, I do not know the initial PE.

KE on topsecond hill= InitialPE-PEtopsecondhill

That is the principle you use here.
You second solution makes no sense. Why would you set the KE of an object equal to its PE?
Similar Questions
  1. Multiple Choice QuestionAustin Sparks worked 45.5 hours at $5 per hour. He made $100 in tips, but no bonuses. Anything over 40
    1. answers icon 1 answer
  2. Use the table to answer the question.Hours Worked 1 4 7 10 x Money Earned y $48 $84 $120 $156 Landon works at a movie theater.
    1. answers icon 1 answer
    1. answers icon 3 answers
    1. answers icon 2 answers
more similar questions