How does energy change from one form to another on a roller coaster?
Coaster's Costume Swap
How does energy change from one form to another on a roller coaster?
A roller coaster has one secret it never tells the screaming riders: it has no engine. Once it leaves the station, nothing pushes it. So how does it tear around the track like that? The answer is a sneaky trade — energy quietly swapping costumes, again and again, the whole ride long.
It all starts with a slow, clanking climb. A chain grabs the car and hauls it up that first big hill. That climb is doing real work, and it's the only time outside energy gets added to the ride. Think of it like winding up a toy: you're loading the car with potential — energy that's stored, just waiting.
