You are debating with a person and they say that on the design of a roller coaster, each summit must be lower than the previous.
You say that that deosn't matter as long as the first summit is the tallest. Who is correct and why?
2006-10-24 10:58:33 · 9 answers · asked by Dancing Star 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
A roller coaster is a machine that repeatedly changes energy from kinetic energy to potential energy. If no energy is added to the roller coaster after the first peak (by using motors or some other power source) then each peak thereafter must be lower than the first. Theoretically, they could be as tall as the first but this would only be the case if no energy was lost after the first peak due to wind resistance and friction--which is inevitable.
2006-10-24 11:07:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can have a very big first fall, then a small second fall followed by a slightly bigger one. its all to do with the momentum or pysical speed the coaster has gained. Ultimately though as the coaster looses efficiency through the wheels and friction on the track etc, this coupled with the forces of gravity its all trying to slow it down, so the bumps usually get less and less.
Hope this helps
2006-10-24 11:05:37 · answer #2 · answered by Mike Smith UK 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you barely made the top of a hill, then you couldn't go up a taller hill. But if you topped a hill with surplus speed, you'd have the momentum from that speed, plus the momentum of going down the hill to get you up the next, taller one.
By the logic of the person you're arguing with, if you went over a 1 inch bump in the track at 150mph, you wouldn't have enough speed to make it up a 2 inch bump. Obviously ridiculous.
2006-10-24 11:29:04 · answer #3 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In their purest form, the first drop must be the highest.
If you are "assisted" up to the summit of another drop, it loses its "coaster" classification.
2006-10-24 11:01:08 · answer #4 · answered by Doubting Thomas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, One of newtons law, dont remember
But it is impossible for a coaster to go down a 100 foot drop and go up 100 feet without help. Gravity brings it down.
2006-10-24 11:02:12 · answer #5 · answered by Yume Kid 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
U purchase a house? Congrats. moving blows. Yeah kinda like YAY he desires to talk to me this early BOO it quite is cuz he's mad at me YAY i think of I mounted it BOO he merely asked how bein a betch to each person is workin for me.... :) :) :) :( :( :( lol
2016-12-28 04:07:19 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the first must be the highest, the rest is design, not science.
2006-10-24 11:01:08 · answer #7 · answered by rocketman9070 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ummm yah..
Cedar Point rules.. GO millenium force!!
2006-10-24 11:00:39 · answer #8 · answered by yournotalone 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it would not be any fun in my opinion...
2006-10-24 11:08:58 · answer #9 · answered by Caroliner 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋