There are two types of energy behind the roller coaster. Potential and kinetic energy. It gains potential energy when rising and kinetic energy when going down. Kinetic energy is when an object is in that has motion., whether it is vertical or horizontal motion. The formula for kinetic energy is: (KE= ½ mv^2).Potential energy is the stored energy of position possessed by an object. The formula for potential energy is: (PE= mgh).There are also forces behind the roller coaster. Frictional, centripetal, gravitational, and inertial forces. Frictional force is a force that is created whenever two surfaces move or try to move across each other. Centripetal force is a force that makes a body follow a curved