Roller Coaster Designer

Conservation of Energy

This module demonstrates one of the most fundamental laws of physics. The Total Energy of the cart is a combination of its Gravitational Potential Energy ($PE = mgh$) and its Kinetic Energy ($KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$). As the cart goes down a hill, its potential energy (from height) is converted into kinetic energy (speed), and vice-versa.

What to look for

• The first point you click sets the cart's starting height and its total energy.
• The cart can never climb higher than where it started: its total energy can't grow, and friction slowly takes some away.