Roller Coaster Science

As the Continual Assessment is approaching, here's a video clip on the conversion of energy from gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy as a collar coaster car moves through two vertical loops. The effects of friction are ignored in this animation.

It is a common misconception that the gravitational potential energy at the top of the first loop is zero. Look at the animation clearly and you will realise that the gravitational potential energy there is not zero. Why? The first loop is lower than the height of drop of the roller coaster car.

Have fun recapping the concept!

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/qt/energy/coastwin.cfm