Amusement Park Physics With a NASA Twist - Space Flight Systems ...

B
A
Peak
Ground level
Show your work here.
If eye level height = 1.4 meters,
fractional part = 4/10, then
1.4 meters/(4/10) = 3.5 meters
3.5 meters 5 = 17.5 meters
(30 meters/39 steps)(82 steps) = 63 meters
3935 ft 0.3048 m = 1199 meters
1 ft
C
Roller Coasters—Floater Hills
Ground Measurements—Answer Key
Locate a medium-sized hill on a coaster ride.
1. Estimate the height of the hill from the ground to the
peak (A) by using the design of the structures. See
the Basic Skills section (page 31) if you have
forgotten how to do this. Show your work in the box.
17.5 m
2. Use stepping to find the hill base distance B to C
(low points before and after the hill).
a) Your steps for 30 meters 39
b) Number of steps taken 82
c) Hill base distance (B to C) 63
(Hint: Multiply the number of steps taken by 30 meters
and divide this answer by the number of steps you
take for 30 meters.)
3.
4.
Check the ride information sign by the entrance of
the ride to find the total distance of the coaster.
a) Distance in feet 3935
b) Convert your answer to meters 1199
Calculate the average speed of the ride. Stand by
the start and exit area. Take note of the number or
color of the car you will time. Time the ride from
when the train of cars leaves the start gate until it
returns. Time three cars from start to finish. Be sure
to convert the time to seconds. Fill in the table
below (answers will vary).
Car 1
Car 2 Car 3 Average time, s
Total ride
distance, m
Average
speed, m/s
Total ride 146 s 152 s 144 s 147 s 1199 m 8.16 m/s
118
Amusement Park Physics With a NASA Twist
EG–2003–03–010–GRC