
One of the most basic forces that stops a moving object is friction. Because most objects do not exist in a vacuum, they are encountering other, often not visible, objects as they move. Some of the kinetic energy of the moving coaster is transferred to other objects that it encounters as it moves and the coaster gradually slows down as it travels down the track, but to bring a roller coaster a complete stop, a braking device will absorb some of the energy but convert it to heat rather than kinetic energy. Some coasters also have an incline before the braking area (converting the kinetic energy into potential energy) so that the design of the track does some of the slowing without applying a mechanical device.
Now try again.
