2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays
THE PHYSICS OF THE ROLLER COASTER
This also relates to how designers create large hills to let the roller coaster build up sufficient
potential energy (which will then be converted to kinetic energy) to sustain the roller coaster’s
movement around the remainder of the track (Pearson, 2001).
KE initial
+ PE initial
+ W external
= KE final
+ PE final
Fig.1.1(Revision World Networks Ltd, 2015)
Energy conversion also occurs when the roller coaster circulates loops. During circulation, the
roller coaster gains height hence gains gravitational potential energy and loses kinetic energy.
However, when a roller coaster reaches the top of the loop, they do not gain maximum
potential energy like from the beginning as the loop’s height is not as high. The difference
between the height of the loop and the first hill will be the factor that determine the
remaining potential energy. Since not all potential energy is converted, there is still kinetic
energy left hence the roller coaster will still be able to travel and complete the loop.
Furthermore, with the help of gravity of Earth, when the roller coaster passes the top of the
loop it will gain more speed and in addition, loses height resulting energy conversion from
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IB Diploma
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