Name:__________________________ Date:_______ Period:_____
Lab: Roller Coaster (Make-Up Assignment
A roller coaster is a perfect example of potential and kinetic energy constantly changing in order to do work.
Remember the definition of potential energy is energy that is being stored. Potential energy can be stored
due to the matter’s position or due to its chemical composition. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
Energy can change from potential energy to kinetic energy . As in the case of the roller coaster’s energy, the
car has the greatest potential energy at the top of the highest hill or drop. As the car tolls down the hill, the
potential energy decreases as the speed and kinetic energy increases. The potential energy is transformed or
changed into kinetic energy as the car rolls downhill. At the bottom of the highest hill (or drop) the car will
have the greatest kinetic energy. No hills or loops can be higher than the hill or loop before them as the car
will not have enough “stored energy” to make the necessary climb.
You will answer the following questions using the information above and the roller coaster examples. Most
questions will require you to write a letter or number from the roller coaster to mark a point on the track.
Example A:
1. Where is the greatest potential energy?_____
2. Where is the greatest kinetic energy? ______
3. Would this roller coaster be a safe ride? Why or why
not.________________________________________________________________
4. If this roller coaster was 600 m and took 2 minutes to complete, what is the average speed of this
coaster? ______________________________________________________
Example B:
5. This coaster is 1750 m and takes 5 minutes. How fast is it? __________________________________
6. Where is the greatest potential energy? _______
7. Where is the greatest kinetic energy?________
8. Would this roller coaster be a safe ride? Why or why not. ______________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Example C:
9. Would this roller coaster be a safe ride? ______________________
10. Explain in detail why this is true. Use the following terms in your explanation: potential energy,
kinetic energy, greatest potential energy, greatest kinetic energy.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
11. If this roller coaster takes 3 minutes to go 960 meters, how fast is it? ___________________________
12. In the space below draw a roller coaster that includes two hills and one loop. Label the greatest
potential energy, greatest kinetic energy, and least potential energy point.