Question

A roller coaster is at the top of a 72m hill and weighs 966N. What is the potential energy of the roller coaster?

Answer 1

depends

69552 J

Explanation

Potential energy is the energy that is stored in an object due to its position relative to some zero position, it depende on the mass of the object, the acceleration of gravity and the height

$\begin{gathered} E_p=mgh \\ \text{where} \\ \text{m is the mass} \\ \text{g is the acceleration due to gravity} \\ h\text{ is the heigth} \end{gathered}$

also

$\begin{gathered} \text{weighth}=\text{mass}\cdot\text{gravity} \\ w=mg \end{gathered}$

hence

$\begin{gathered} E_p=mgh=wh \\ E_p=\text{weigth}\cdot\text{heigth} \end{gathered}$

Step 1

Let

a) let

weigth= 966 N

heigth = 72 m

b) now, replace

$\begin{gathered} E_p=\text{weigth}\cdot\text{heigth} \\ E_p=966\text{ N}\cdot72\text{ m} \\ E_p=69552\text{ J} \end{gathered}$

therefore, the answer is

69552 J

I hope this helps you