Roller Coaster Physics Project by Analisa

ACCELERATION

Analisa — 2014-04-08 20:06:48 UTC

Roller coasters do not only change in speed but also in direction. If you have ever ridden on a roller coaster you would know that you are continuously getting driven up and down or side to side. Roller coasters result in large accelerations unlike a carousel that has a constant speed and direction therefore results in less acceleration.

BALENCED AND UNBALENCED FORCES

Analisa — 2014-04-08 20:21:35 UTC

Roller coasters often have a large dip, and/or loop. Have you ever thought: What if I fall out? Well you can't because a balanced force is acting upon you and the bars that are locking you in. When you are riding down the slope, your body wants to stay up, while the cart is forcing your body down, this is an example of a balanced force. If the bar was not there, you would fly upward out of the cart resulting in an unbalanced force.

CENTRIPETAL AND CENTRIFUGAL FORCES

Analisa — 2014-04-08 20:40:54 UTC

When roller coasters have a loop, centripetal and centrifugal forces are getting acted among the coaster cart. The centripetal force is pushing inward and the centrifugal force pushes outward. This makes the cart stay in place on the tracks. Without these forces, the cart would fall before it got around the loop.

"G"

Analisa — 2014-04-09 04:49:52 UTC

This unit of acceleration is caused by gravity. Gravity plays a big role in roller coasters. Gravity is what makes the roller coasters you ride on thrilling. Gravity is what keeps you on the ground, otherwise you would be floating. It causes free-falling objects on the Earth to change their speeds. Without "g" speed on roller coasters would stay the same throughout the whole ride.

MOMENTUM

Analisa — 2014-04-10 00:37:07 UTC

When a moving object has a large mass, it has a stronger momentum. When a moving object has a small mass, it has a slower momentum. A train of roller coaster carts would be very heavy, they have a large mass. Momentum on a roller coaster is gained by the dip, that is why the dip is usually placed at the beginning of the ride.

WEIGHTLESSNESS

Analisa — 2014-04-11 06:03:55 UTC

Roller coaster rides usually make you feel weightless when you drop down a steep dip, but really,you weigh the same as you did before you got on the ride. Riders usually feel this sensation because they no longer feel an external force among their bodies. The heavier one is, the more external force one would feel. Therefore, weightlessness is a sensation, not an actual drop in weight

FRICTION

Analisa — 2014-04-11 06:17:44 UTC

Friction is the rubbing force between two objects. When ever there is a moving object, there is friction. EX: if a roller coaster was going down a dip to the right, friction is created to the left. Friction is slowing down the roller coaster.

POTENTIAL AND KINETIC ENERGY

Analisa — 2014-04-11 17:09:09 UTC

An object can store energy according to its position.Potential energy is the stored energy of position possessed by an object. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Any object that has motion, has kinetic energy.

ENERGY

Analisa — 2014-04-11 17:20:26 UTC

Energy is measured in joules

PE AND KE

Analisa — 2014-04-11 17:30:04 UTC

Potential energy takes place when the roller coaster is traveling up, Kinetic energy takes place when the roller coaster is traveling down.

ROLLER COASTER HISTORY

Analisa — 2014-04-13 05:27:32 UTC

The first "roller coaster" was built in the 16th century. Roller coasters are based off of Russian hills of ice. These Russian hills of ice were built from 70 to 80 feet high and consisted of a 50 degree drop. To make sturdier, people reinforced them with wooden supports. As the popularity of the rides grew, and the technology advanced, these rides got faster, steeper, and smoother. These rides today are known as roller coasters.

ROLLER COASTER STATISTICS

Analisa — 2014-04-13 06:12:14 UTC

The tallest roller coaster holds a record of 456 feet high. This roller coaster is named, "Kingda Ka", and is located at Six Flags in the U.S. The fastest roller coaster holds a record of 149 mph. This roller coaster is named, "Formula Rossa", and is located at Ferrari World in the United Arab Emirates. The longest roller coaster holds a record of 8133 feet long. This roller coaster is named, "Steel Dragon 2000" and is located at Nagashima Spa Land in Japan.

CORKSCREW

Analisa — 2014-04-13 06:45:29 UTC

COBRA ROLL

Analisa — 2014-04-13 06:48:09 UTC

BATWING

Analisa — 2014-04-13 06:56:32 UTC

VERTICAL LOOP

Analisa — 2014-04-13 07:00:36 UTC

CALIFORNIA SCREAMIN'

Analisa — 2014-04-13 07:06:01 UTC

THE BIG QUESTION: HOW DOES A ROLLER COASTER CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF A TRACK IF IT ONLY USES AN ENGINE AT THE VERY BEGINNING?

Analisa — 2014-04-13 07:24:14 UTC

The roller coaster in mechanically brought to the tob of the slope, and gravity takes control from there on. The rest of the ride is energy transformation. The roller coaster carts gains more momentum from every slope.

EQUATIONS

Analisa — 2014-04-14 17:52:07 UTC

Potential energy = mass x G x height

Kinetic energy = 1/2 x mass x velocity x velocity

Analisa — 2014-04-14 18:19:51 UTC

BY: ANALISA MCGUFFIE P.4

Analisa — 2014-04-14 18:19:51 UTC

OUR ROLLER COASTER (KIDDY COASTER)

Analisa — 2014-04-14 18:36:44 UTC

OUR ROLLER COASTER (KIDDY COASTER)

Analisa — 2014-04-14 18:37:25 UTC

KIDDY COASTER FACTS

Analisa — 2014-04-14 18:45:24 UTC

Speed: 2.05 seconds

Kinetic energy: .003 m/s2

Potential energy: 106 m/s2

Track: 5.55 cm long

OUR KIDDY COASTER SKETCH

Analisa — 2014-04-14 18:54:54 UTC