![]() Even though, theoretically, the train has the kinetic energy to get up the same size hill as the first drop, some kinetic energy would be lost yet again due to friction and air resistance. In this situation, when the train accelerates down the first drop and climbs up the second element, it would roll back. This would be another dull coaster, but this would make the news as it is destined to get stuck. ![]() And it would be a very boring coaster! Situation 2: An Element of Equal Height to the First Drop Train will stop moving without kinetic energy. However, in the real world, forces such air resistance and friction between the wheels and the track dissipate the kinetic energy. If the track after the first drop was completely flat and straight, the kinetic energy would, theoretically, allow the train to continue moving forever, as energy does not disappear. Coaster designers then have to consider what happens after the first drop. The calculation between the lift hill and the drop heights have to be precise, otherwise the train will not gather enough potential and kinetic energy to complete the circuit. The kinetic energy at the bottom of the drop determines how far the coaster train can travel along the track and through inversions, banked turns and airtime hills. The coaster rails control the angle of descent meaning the steeper the first drop, the greater the kinetic energy. All objects falling to the ground seek the fastest way down which is typically straight down. ![]() The greater the potential energy in the train gathered during the lift hill climb, the more kinetic energy the train will have at the bottom of the drop. A transfer of Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy occurs when the coaster train leaves the top of the lift hill and powers down the first drop. When an object falls back to Earth, it gathers Kinetic Energy. ![]()
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