The length of the train is key. If it were only one car long it couldn't make it over the second hill. I suspect that the potential energy in the train at the beginning is just barely enough to put half the train over h1, after which the unbalanced weight pulls the rest of the train over. This train represents the sweet spot between a short train that can't clear the hill and a very long train that clears it easily.
my type of gci
The length of the train is key. If it were only one car long it couldn't make it over the second hill. I suspect that the potential energy in the train at the beginning is just barely enough to put half the train over h1, after which the unbalanced weight pulls the rest of the train over.
This train represents the sweet spot between a short train that can't clear the hill and a very long train that clears it easily.
Yeah, the COG of the entire train might stay lower than the initial height
There should be an actual coaster that confuses some people like this
Witchcraft!
We obey the laws of thermodynamics in this household, mister.
Well, it does. ;)
What if you post this to science youtubers? Maybe we'll get to see a physical verification, and they'll get a decent video idea
Such a video is coming from some talented folks in the NoLimits community, with a strong knowledge in math and physics. ;)