-
A roller coaster is designed such that riders experience “weightlesness” as they go round the top of a hill whose radius of curvature is 20 m. The speed of the car at the top of the hill is between :
-
- 14 m/s and 15 m/s
- 15 m/s and 16 m/s
- 16 m/s and 17 m/s
- 13 m/s and 14 m/s
Correct Option: A
For the riders to experience weightlessness at the top of the hill, the weight of the rider must be balanced by the centripetal force.
i.e. , mg = | ||
R |
⇒ v = √gR = √10 × 20 = 14.1 ms-1
Hence, the speed of the car should be between 14 ms–1 and 15 ms–1.