A&L ENGINEERING
Roller Coaster Design Report
Coaster Design Diagram
Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy, and Momentum Calculations
Height P1: 75m V1: 0m P2: 50m V2: 0m P3: 30m
Potential
Energy
367500J 0J 245000J 0J 147000J
Kinetic
Energy
0J 367500J 122500J 367500J 220500J
Velocity 0 m/s 38.94 m/s 22.14 m/s 38.34 m/s 29.7 m/s
Momentum 0 kg m/s 19.17 kg m/s 11.07 kg m/s 19.17 kg m/s 14.85 kg m/s
Energy Descriptions
When the cart starts at P1, it will only have potential energy with no kinetic energy. However,
as the cart goes down the track, its energy will be converted into kinetic energy, though will go
back to potential energy as it goes from V1 to P2, repeating till the end. This means that the
total energy is constant throughout its journey down the track, as it will start with potential
energy, then to kinetic energy, repeating until the track ends.
Collision Calculations
Cart one will move along the track, and as it collides with cart two, both carts will stick
together and continue moving on the track. They move at the same velocity since the
momentum is conserved after the collision, keeping it the same even after they collide.
1. Momentum before the collision: = 0
2. Momentum after the collision: = m/s
3. Kinetic energy before the collision: = J
4. Kinetic energy after the collision: = J
Collision Descriptions
While some kinetic energy will be lost as the carts stick together from one to another, it can
also cause it to be transferred into other types of energy such as thermal or sound, as the carts
cause friction between them and make noise as they collide.
Friction Calculations
Tip: The work-energy theorem tells us that change in kinetic energy is equal to work done on the
system.
Friction Calculations:
1. Distance (d) = 20m
2. 2. Mass (m) = 1000Kg
3. 3. Velocity = final velocity after collision = m/s
4. 4. Work due to friction = W=-F*d
Therefore, our final value = - 189540.5 J or -9477 N
Energy Transfers
The kinetic energy is transferred into thermal and sound energy as the cart stops due to friction
forces
References
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