How does physics explain the motion of a roller coaster?
For any object to be in circular motion, there must be a centripetal force of mv^2 / R, where v is the velocity and R is the radius of the circular path. In roller coaster, when the object is in the top most of the circle, the necessary centripetal force is provided by the weight of the object = mg. mg = mv^2 /R or v^2 = Rg. If the object is having a velocity v = √ Rg, then though mg pulls it vertically down ward, because of its velocity v in the horizontal direction, it will not fall down. The same thing can be stated in other words, that since the only force acting on the object is the centripetal force, the object will move in a circular path. ======================================… To provide a velocity v to the object, the object is made to fall from a certain height H above the ground. If a body falls through a distance s, then its velocity at the end of the distance s will be v = √ [2gs] Since the difference between the top point of the circle 2R from the ground and the height H
