Roller Coaster - Physics-matters.net

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OBJECTIVE To design and build a working roller coaster based upon creativity and the application of physics principles. CONCEPT Roller coasters are basically “gravity rides”. Once the coaster car has been pulled to the top of the first hill and released, it is the force of gravity that keeps the coaster in motion through all of the twists, turns, loops, and rolls. If the coaster car is not pulled up another hill, higher than the first, it will never achieve the velocity it gained from the first hill. It may appear that way to the participant in the car, but it is illusionary only. Some of the energy is lost due to friction. The illusion occurs because the roller coaster designers have made each turn or loop progressively smaller, or tighter, thus maintaining the feel of increasing speed. Energy changes from potential energy into kinetic energy and back into potential energy. . DESIGN SEQUENCE PROJECT PARAMETERS Structure Design Task Drafting Phase Construction Phase Testing Phase Evaluation Redesign Ideas 1. Size restrictions: the base must fit within a square footprint that is 75 cm x 75 cm and not to exceed 100 cm in height. 2. If any portion of your project exceeds the size limitations it must be modified until all portions are to specifications or it will be penalized 3. Your model must be designed for either a glass marble of regular size or greater (shooter), or a steel ball that is 1 cm (1/2”) diameter or greater. 4. Materials that may be used include; wood, wire, string, doweling, cardboard, glue, duct tape or other similar materials. Foam tubing, ¾ inch or 1 inch) used for insulating water pipes can be used to form the basis for a track. This tubing is already slit along one side and can be slit in half lengthwise using exacta knifes etc. The cut sections may them be taped together using duct tape. The tubing can be taped to cardboard or ply-wood structures for support or suspended between PVC pipes with 2
string or wires. (This tubing runs about &1.20 per six feet). Tygon tubing may also be used but is more difficult to cut. 5. The ball will be released by hand from the top of the first hill and must traverse the entire course. 6. No other forms of energy may be supplied, such as springs, rubber bands, magnets, motors etc. 7. Each team may have a maximum of 4 members. 8. Each model will be allowed three runs. The longest time to go from the start position to the finish will be the data used for all your calculations. 9. Your roller coaster must be designed for a steel ball or glass marble that when released from the top of the first hill will travel through the entire ride. The coaster must contain at least one clothoid loop or a circular loop, one or more banking turns and at least one other hill after the initial starting point. The addition of a spiral or cork screw would be a plus. TASKS FOR TEAM MEMBERS 1. Engineer a working roller coaster that follows the directions set forth in the project parameters section. The following web sites may be of some help: http://ffden2.phys.uaf.edu/211_fall2002.web.dir/Shawna_Sastamoinen/Roller_Coasters.h tm http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/CLass/circles/u6l2b.html http://cec.chebucto.org/Co-Phys.html http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Pav/Science/Physics/book/curves/home.html http://illumin.usc.edu/article.phparticleID=52&page=3 http://www.angelfire.com/on2/thrillsandchills/reference.html http://physicsquest.homestead.com/rollercoaster.html http://www.netc.org/classrooms@work/classrooms/middleteam/learning/rctable.html http://demo.physics.uiuc.edu/lectdemo/scripts/demo_descript.idcDemoID=1107 http://www.aps.org/apsnews/0104/010414.cfm http://gogk12.optics.ucf.edu/Labs/Notes/The%20Physics%20of%20Rollercoasters.doc 2. Calculate, based on the data collected, all the relevant formulas related to motion in two dimensions. 3. Compare your calculations with those of the simulator: http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/ http://www.nolimitscoaster.com/ 3
Page 1: • Objective THE GRAVITY OF PHYSIC
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Roller Coaster - Physics-matters.net

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