GPE to Kinetic Energy Conversion
This is where physics gets exciting! Energy conversion between GPE and kinetic energy (KE) explains how roller coasters work without needing engines on every hill.
Picture a 1000 kg car on a roller coaster. At the top (45 m high), it has maximum GPE but zero KE because it's stationary. As it rolls down, GPE converts to KE, making the car speed up.
At the bottom, all that stored energy becomes movement energy - maximum KE and zero GPE. The car then has enough energy to climb the next hill, converting KE back to GPE.
This energy transfer continues throughout the ride, assuming no energy is lost to friction, heat, or sound.
Physics in Action: Next time you're on a roller coaster, you'll know exactly why the first hill is always the tallest - it needs to give enough GPE to power the entire ride!