Roller Coasters Focus Book and Read-Think-Write Questions

Roller Coasters Focus Book: Read-Think-Write Questions

Multiple Choice

Newton's law of inertia says that a roller coaster will stay at rest or in motion until __________________.

• it goes over a hill

• gravity moves it

• a force acts on it

Open Ended

Explain why the highest hill is always at the beginning of a ride.

Answer

The highest hill (also called the lift hill) is always at the beginning of the ride because that is where the car gains the most potential energy. This potential energy is stored energy that will change to other forms of energy, including kinetic energy, to keep the car moving through the rest of the ride.

Look at the diagram on page 4. Where would the car's kinetic energy probably be the greatest?

a. at the top of the lift hill

b. at the bottom of the lift hill

c. going over the second hill

d. at the top of the loop

Multiple Choice

Look at the diagram on page 4. Where would the car's kinetic energy probably be the greatest?

• a. at the top of the lift hill

• b. at the bottom of the lift hill

• c. going over the second hill

• d. at the top of the loop

Answer

The car's kinetic energy is probably greatest at the bottom of the first lift hill. This is the tallest hill and give the car the longest distance to accelerate due to gravity. At this point, the car has not lost momentum by coasting up the next hill.

Multiple Choice

If a car changes speed or directions, its ___________ has changed.

• acceleration

• centripetal force

• momentum

Open Ended

What makes a roller coaster car stop at the end of the ride?

Answer

Answer will vary but should mention at least one and preferably both of the following:

1. the roller coast car lost momentum through the ride as it moved over hills, around turns, and through loops.
2. brakes at the end of the ride provide friction to stop the car

The End