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

Free-Fall Rides
Ride Measurements
When measuring the end of the fall, make sure that you
measure the g’s before the ride bends away from the vertical.
Always hold the accelerometer so that it is vertical, or the
measurements will not be correct.
1.
Take the accelerometer on the ride to measure the
accelerations (g’s) during the ride.
2.
Complete column g in the data table below.
3.
Indicate with an “X” which of the four locations below have a
maximum kinetic energy (KE), maximum potential energy
(PE), minimum KE, or minimum PE. There should be only one
X in each column. That is, there is only one location (either
during the lift, at the top of the ride, during the fall, or the end of
the fall) in which there is a maximum KE. Remember, KE is
energy of motion and PE is energy of position.
During the lift
At the top of the ride
During the fall
End of the fall
g Maximum KE Maximum PE Minimum KE Minimum PE
A team of girls works together to answer the ride worksheet questions.
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Amusement Park Physics With a NASA Twist
EG–2003–03–010–GRC