In: Physics
This question is all about the application of energy conservation and change of energy. now when the roller coaster is at rest it has only potential energy that is, at a higher peak position the roller coaster has only the potential energy and using this energy the roller coaster will travel the further downward path and also the following path with out using any motor. Now if the original point is lower than a point higher, the potential energy is also lower than the potential energy at the higher point. So, under this situation it not possible for the roller coaster to incrase its potential energy rather the total energy (as the total energy at a high peak point is entirely potential ). For this situation it needs a dragg by external source. It does not have anything with the mass or how much people is on it as during the entire ride the mass of the roller coaster is constant.
The situation is depicted in a diagram-