Roller Coaster Energy Lab

Explore how height, speed, gravity, mass, and friction change a coaster's energy.

Run Controls

Mode

Preset track ?

Challenge ?

Switch to Challenge mode to test a target.

Variables

Mass 500 kg More mass means larger PE and KE values.

Starting height 56 m

Gravity 9.8 m/s²

Friction strength 0.018

Car style

Friction on

Preset mode: press Start. In editable mode, drag the round hill nodes to change the track height.

Display Options

Energy Dashboard

PE = mgh0 J

KE = 1/2 mv²0 J

ME = PE + KE0 J

Thermal0 J

Speed0 m/s

Acceleration0 m/s²

Height0 m

FrictionOff

Energy Bars

Potential

Kinetic

Thermal

Total

100%

Small Graph

Graph type

Student Explanation

At the top of the hill, the coaster has more stored gravitational potential energy because it is higher above the ground.

Misconception Warning

The coaster does not speed up because it is going forward; it speeds up because gravity changes its energy as height decreases.

Inquiry Questions

Where do you predict the coaster will have the greatest kinetic energy?
How does raising the first hill change the maximum speed?
What changes when friction is turned on?
Does changing mass change the speed, the energy values, or both?
Can you design a track where the coaster just reaches the final hill?

Developer Note

Constants and preset track geometry are near the top of the script in CONFIG and PRESETS. To tune classroom behavior, adjust gravity defaults, friction scale, node heights, or challenge thresholds there.