Amber visits a theme park that has a roller coaster that travels upside down. Which of the following is the best explanation for why the roller coaster car stays in contact with the track when it travels upside down?
A)The track and car are held together by a series of strong magnets.
B)The car has large amounts of thermal energy that binds it to the track.
C)The car has chemical energy that resists the effect of gravity when it is upside down.
D)The car has mechanical energy and is fast enough that gravity cannot pull the car down.
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D because mechanical energy is basically kinetic energy and when that is greater than the force of gravity then it will not fall down.
To determine the best explanation for why the roller coaster car stays in contact with the track when it travels upside down, we need to understand the principles of physics involved. The two main forces acting on the car are gravity and a normal force from the track.
Option A) "The track and car are held together by a series of strong magnets."
This option suggests that magnets keep the car attached to the track. However, this explanation is not accurate for most roller coasters. While some roller coasters do indeed use magnetic systems for propulsion and braking, these magnets are generally not strong enough to hold the car in place when it is upside down. Also, the potential dangers of relying solely on magnets for keeping the car attached to the track are significant.
Option B) "The car has large amounts of thermal energy that binds it to the track."
Thermal energy is a form of energy associated with the motion and temperature of particles in a substance. However, thermal energy is not relevant to considering why the car stays in contact with the track.
Option C) "The car has chemical energy that resists the effect of gravity when it is upside down."
Chemical energy is a form of potential energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds. While chemical forces and reactions do play a role in the operation and movements of roller coasters, it is not responsible for keeping the car attached to the track when it goes upside down.
Option D) "The car has mechanical energy and is fast enough that gravity cannot pull the car down."
This option correctly identifies mechanical energy as the key factor in keeping the car attached to the track. When the car moves with sufficient speed, the forces of gravity and the normal force work together to provide the necessary centripetal force to keep the car on the track. The car's inertia and the normal force acting towards the center of the curve prevent the car from falling off the track.
Therefore, the correct answer is D) "The car has mechanical energy and is fast enough that gravity cannot pull the car down."