According to the law of conservation of energy, why does the first hill of a roller coaster have to be the highest?
According to the law of conservation of energy, energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred or transformed from one form to another. In the context of a roller coaster, the energy involved is primarily gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, and sometimes frictional energy.
At the highest point of a roller coaster's first hill, it has the maximum potential energy due to its elevation. As the roller coaster descends, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy (the energy of motion). This conversion occurs because the potential energy decreases as the coaster loses height and gains speed.
To ensure that the roller coaster has enough energy throughout the ride, the first hill needs to be the highest. By starting with a higher initial potential energy, the coaster can convert it into kinetic energy as it descends and maintain enough speed to overcome subsequent hills and turns, allowing for an exciting and dynamic ride. If the first hill were not the highest, the coaster might not have sufficient energy to complete the entire ride, and it could come to a stop before reaching the end.