Summary

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-When the roller coaster moves up the first hill, it is gaining more gravitational potential energy. It has the highest gravitational potential energy when it is at the peak. When it rushes down the slope, gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, which is the energy of movement. It has the highest kintetic energy at the base of the hill, where most of the gravitational potential energy has been converted into kinetic energy. Thermal and sound energy is converted from gravitational potential energy too in this process.

-Energy cannot be generated or produced. This has implications on the design of roller coasters. The principle of conservation of energy tells us that the roller coaster cannot gain any new energy while on the track. Designers have to ensure that the gravitational potential energy from the hills can allow the coaster to complete its journey.

-The roller coaster uses the gravitational potential energy of the first hill to be converted into kinetic energy for movement. It is thi kinetic energy that is responsible for the roller coaster's movement across the track.

-Roller coasters generally encounter a large hill at the beginning of the course. The higher the hill, the higher the gravitational potential energy gained by the roller coaster. The height of the hills are critical to whether the roller coaster completes its journey or not. Higher gravitational potential energy gained at first can allow the roller coaster to have more energy for it to complete its journey.

-Power is the amount of work done per unit time. We can calculate the power of the roller coaster by divding work by time. Work can be further defined as force multiplied by displacement.

-Efficiency is useful energy output/energy input x 100%.