Transcript How does physics explain the motion of a Roller Coaster?

Alicia
Job: Computer Analysis
Spring 2005
Dover Middle School
th
8
Grade California Science
Content Standard
• Motion 1. The velocity of an object is the rate of change of its
position. As a basis for understanding this concept:
1. b. Students know that average speed is the total distance
traveled divided by the total time elapsed and that the speed of
an object along the path traveled can vary.
• 1. c. Students know how to solve problems involving distance,
time, and average speed.
1. f. Students know how to interpret graphs of position versus
time and graphs of speed versus time for motion in a single
direction.
Rollercoaster Terms
• 1) Velocity-refers to speed and direction which an
object moves, like a car going north at 60 mph
• 2) Gravity-an unseen force that pulls one object to
another, like the Earth is pulling objects to itself
• 3) Acceleration-the rate of changing directions and
speed,for instance, a car might go 14mph north,
then go 20 mph west
• 4) G-force-a kind of gravity that has 2 objects with
mass attract each other. It differs on the mass and
distance it has, like a bigger object pulls smaller
objects to itself.
Rollercoaster Terms cont.
• 5) potential energy-depends on the object’s
mass and height, like a rollercoaster getting
ready to go down the 1st hill of the ride
• 6) kinetic energy-energy that an object has
depending on its motion. It also depends on
the mass and speed, like a rollercoaster
hitting its lowest point to reach its highest
point of kinetic energy
• 7) centripetal force-force that pushes an
object in a direction, like the moon is pulled
to the Earth
Materials
A) 2 six foot sections of ¾ inch inner
diameter, thin wall, pipe insulation
track
B) 1 marble
C) cup (to catch marble at end of track)
D) ~ 8 twenty cm sections of masking
tape
E) Timer (preferably a stopwatch)
F) Balance
G) Digital camera
How a Rollercoaster
Works
• 1) Does a coaster have an engine? No
• 2) What conversion process drives a roller coaster?
Potential energy to kinetic energy drives the roller
coaster.
• 3) When you are at the top of a hill, what type of
energy is this called?
Potential energy.
• 4) What is the difference between wooden and steel
coasters? Wooden coasters are slower, not great
with turns, and don ‘t have loops. Steel coasters are
faster, has lots of turns, and has loops.
Additional features of Roller Coaster
• clothoid loop- It has a smaller radius
than a full loop.
• Inertia- If an object is at rest it will not
move, or if an object is going at a
steady pace, it will not change unless
an outside force acts upon it.
• heart rate- a measurement of how
many heart beats in an amount of time
Normal Heart Rate
• You use the PASCO probes by attaching the clip
to your finger or earlobe.
• Then you press the big green button that has a
“play” mark on it.
• Wait for as long as you need to measure your
heart rate.
• Then you press that button again.
• The final result will show on the screen.
• My resting heart rate is 52 per 30 seconds.
Narration of your Roller
Coaster
At the top of the hill, you’ll discover the potential
energy. You’re also feeling the velocity going in
different directions. You’re also feeling the gravity
pulling you down from the first hill. Then you’ll feel
the acceleration when you feel the twists and turns
along the ride of the roller coaster. The G-force
determines how safe a ride is.
Results of Coaster
• I only went on Medusa. My heart rate was
on average 90 heart beats for ~ 22 seconds
before the 1st hill.
Conclusion
How does physics explain the motion of a
Roller Coaster?
• Physics explains how fast a roller coaster goes.
• It also explains how to determine how long the
ride is by accelertion.
• Another thing is to learn about why the roller
coaster has a certain structure, like it explains the
1st hill is the tallest and the elliptical loop of the
ride.