Answer :
Final answer:
The mass of the roller coaster is calculated by dividing the given potential energy by the product of gravitational acceleration and the height, yielding a mass of approximately 800 kg. The correct option is 1.
Explanation:
The question provided involves calculating the mass of a roller coaster using the concept of gravitational potential energy (GPE). Gravitational potential energy can be calculated using the equation GPE = mass (m) × gravitational acceleration (g) × height (h). Given that the potential energy of the roller coaster is 235,200 J, and it sits at the top of a 30 m high hill, we can rearrange this equation to solve for the mass of the roller coaster: mass = GPE / (g × h).
The gravitational acceleration (g) is generally taken as 9.8 m/s2 on the surface of the earth. Hence, the calculation is as follows:
mass = 235,200 J / (9.8 m/s2 × 30 m).
After solving, we get: mass ≈ 800 kg. Therefore, option 1) 800 kg is the correct answer.
