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Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure is the world\'s largest roller coaster. W

ID: 1571537 • Letter: K

Question

Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure is the world's largest roller coaster. When fully occupied, one car has a mass of 741 kg. When the car reaches the highest point (139 m above the ground) it has a speed of 23.5 m/s.

a. What is the kinetic energy of the car at the top (in Joules)?

b. What is the potential energy of the car at the top (in Joules)?

c. What is the total energy of the car (in Joules)?

d. What is the potential energy of the car at the bottom of the track (ground level, in Joules)?

e. What is the kinetic energy of the cart at the bottom of the track (in Joules)?

f. How fast is the roller coaster moving at the bottom of the ride (in m/s)?

Explanation / Answer

given

mass m = 741 kg ,

height h = 139 m

speed v = 23.5 m/sec

a )

the kinetic energy is KE = 1/2 m v2

KE = 0.5 X 741 X 23.52

KE = 204608.625 J

b )

Potetnial energy PE = m g h

PE = 741 X 9.8 X 139

PE = 1009390.2 J

c )

the total energy is

TE = KE + PE

TE = 204608.625 + 1009390.2

TE = 1213998.825 J

d )

the potential energy of the car at the bottom of the track ground level is ZERO

e )

the kinetic energy of the cart at the bottom of the track is same as

KE = 204608.625 J