Question

The Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio is one of the world’s most impressive roller coasters. Wearing only a lap harness in the open air,riders on a 7.5 ton train are accelerated by hydraulic motors on a level track to 120mph in just 3.8s. After this no more power is supplied to the train-it’s on its own. The train shoots straight up along the track to a height of 420ft before a straight-down descent.

a) What is the kinetic energy of the train after the 3.8s launch?

b) How much power is generated by the mototrs as they launch the train? Give your answer in megawatts and horsepower.

c) What is the gravitational potential energy of the train at the top of the ride?

Answer 1