PHY218 SPRING 2016
RECITATION PROBLEMS: Week# 7
Mechanical Energy
These are the problems that you and a team of other 2-3 students will be asked to solve during the recitation
session next week. Your team can do better if you think about the approach and explanation for these problems
BEFORE coming to class.
1. Rollercoaster: A roller coaster train in an amusement
park (in Texas, of course) has the mass m. The coaster
with no passengers in it is released from rest at a height
h above the bottom of a circular vertical loop of radius
R. There is friction of known coefficient μk between the
track and the coaster.
a) Calculate the height H from the bottom of the loop
where the coaster will fly from the rails.
b) Make up your own set of numerical values for m, μk,
h, and R such that the coaster loops the loop.
2. Skier on a sphere: A skier of mass m starts from rest
at the top of a solid sphere of radius r and slides down
its frictionless surface.
a) At what angle Ө will the skier leave the sphere (takeoff)?
Approach: Under this tab, list the steps taken by your team for finding each solution. You answer here the
questions WHAT? and HOW?
Approach 1.
PHY218 SPRING 2016
RECITATION PROBLEMS: Week# 7
Approach 2.
Explanation: Under this tab, explain why your team has chosen those approaches. You answer here the questions
WHY? and WHEN?
Explanation 1.
Explanation 2.