Using the picture of the roller coaster in question #12, calculate the work done to move the coaster up to the top of the first hill.

Iroduction:

In the nature, energy can be found in different forms. According to conservation of energy, energy neither be created nor be destroyed, it can converted from one form to another form, whereas energy of the universe still remains constant. Mechanical energy is the energy of the object which is the sum of kinetic and potential energy.

Gravitational potential energy is the energy posses by the object under the influence of gravitational force. Since the work done to move an object at a certain height is nothing but the gravitational potential energy stored.

Given data:

Height of the hill is,

h= 20 m

Mass of the roller coaster is,

m=500 kg

Formula used:

Work done is stored in the gravitational potential energy,

$$\begin{gathered} P= mgh=W \\ W=mgh \end{gathered}$$

Where,

g- Acceleration due to gravity

Calculation:

The work done to move the coaster up to the top of the first hill is,

$$\begin{gathered} W=mgh \\ W=\left(500 \mathrm{kg}\right)\left(9.8 \mathrm{m}/{\mathrm{s}}^2\right)\left(20 \mathrm{m}\right) \\ W= 98000 \mathrm{J} \\ \mathrm{W}= 98 \mathrm{kJ} \end{gathered}$$