Would a rollercoaster have the greatest kinetic energy at the top of the highest hill or at the bottom on the highest hill
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: At the bottom of the highest hill
A rollercoaster would have the greatest kinetic energy at the bottom of the highest hill, not at the top. This is because of how energy transforms during motion.
At the top of the hill, the rollercoaster is at its highest point and is usually moving slowly or is momentarily at rest. Here, it has the maximum potential energy due to its height above the ground. Potential energy is stored energy based on position, and it is calculated using the formula:
Potential Energy = mass × gravity × height
As the rollercoaster begins to descend, this potential energy is gradually converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion. Kinetic energy depends on both mass and speed, and is given by the formula:
Kinetic Energy = 0.5 × mass × velocity²
As the rollercoaster drops down the hill, its speed increases because gravity pulls it downward. As speed increases, kinetic energy increases rapidly, because velocity is squared in the formula. At the very bottom of the hill, the rollercoaster reaches its maximum speed, and therefore has the greatest kinetic energy.
This transformation from potential to kinetic energy follows the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. So the potential energy at the top is not lost; it is simply transformed into kinetic energy as the coaster descends.
In summary, while the rollercoaster has the most potential energy at the top of the highest hill, it has the most kinetic energy at the bottom, where it moves the fastest due to the full conversion of height-based energy into motion-based energy.
