Roller Coaster: Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Theory

Without friction, mechanical energy $E=K+U=\frac{1}{2}m{v}^2+mgh$ is conserved: the speed at each point depends only on height, $v=\sqrt{2g(h_0-h)}$. This track is a drawn stroke marked as solid.

What to observe

• In the graph, $K$ and $U$ trade values while $E$ barely changes (part goes into the ball’s rotation).

Try this

• In the Draw category, turn on “Solid stroke” and draw your own track!
• Click the stroke and untick “Solid surface”.

Also available in: Montanha-russa: conservação da energia mecânica (Português) · Montaña rusa: conservación de la energía mecánica (Español)