What would happen if a roller coaster has no friction?
What would happen if a roller coaster has no friction? Because it is released from rest, its starting velocity is zero. The force of gravity will cause it to speed up as it moves down the hill. Because there is no friction between Points A and C, the energy of the rollercoaster remains constant over that portion of the motion.
What makes a roller coaster go fast?
According to Kevin Hickerson, a physicist at the California Institute of Technology, “All the energy a roller coaster gets comes from the initial point it's cranked up to, and from there it just gains more and more kinetic energy.” The height of this first drop also determines the speed of the coaster cars.
What effects do gravity and friction have on roller coaster cars?
As they race down the other side of the hill, the potential energy becomes kinetic energy, and gravity takes effect, speeding the cars along the track. Furthermore, while the cars are rolling along the track, the energy from the cars is transferred elsewhere because of friction.
What is the physics behind roller coasters?
In roller coasters, the two forms of energy that are most important are gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy. Gravitational potential energy is the energy that an object has because of its height and is equal to the object's mass multiplied by its height multiplied by the gravitational constant (PE = mgh).
How do roller coasters stop?
A roller coaster ride comes to an end. Magnets on the train induce eddy currents in the braking fins, giving a smooth rise in braking force as the remaining kinetic energy is absorbed by the brakes and converted to thermal energy.