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

Free-Fall Rides—Nonattending Students
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.
If you were to take the accelerometer on the ride to
measure the accelerations (g’s) during the ride, where
would you experience various g levels
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
87
Amusement Park Physics With a NASA Twist
EG–2003–03–010–GRC