College Physics (4th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073512141
ISBN 13: 978-0-07351-214-3

Chapter 6 - Conceptual Questions - Page 225: 6

Answer

If the roller coaster starts from rest and only gravity acts on the roller coaster during its motion, then it is not possible for any hill on the ride to be higher than the first hill.

Work Step by Step

If the roller coaster starts from rest and only gravity acts on the roller coaster during its motion, then it is not possible for any hill on the ride to be higher than the first hill. If a roller coaster reached the top of a higher hill than the first one, the roller coaster would have a higher potential energy than the potential energy on the first hill, and this would violate the conservation of energy, Note that if the roller coaster's initial kinetic energy is non-zero or if some external force besides gravity (such as an engine or a tow line) did positive work on the roller coaster during the motion, then it would be possible to reach the top of a higher hill than the first hill.
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