Alicia

Job: Computer Analysis

Spring 2005

Dover Middle School

8th Grade California Science Content Standard

• Motion 1. The velocity of an object is the rate of change of its position. As a basis for understanding this concept:

1. b. Students know that average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time elapsed and that the speed of an object along the path traveled can vary.

• 1. c. Students know how to solve problems involving distance, time, and average speed.

1. f. Students know how to interpret graphs of position versus time and graphs of speed versus time for motion in a single direction.

Rollercoaster Terms • 1) Velocity-refers to speed and direction which an

object moves, like a car going north at 60 mph• 2) Gravity-an unseen force that pulls one object to

another, like the Earth is pulling objects to itself• 3) Acceleration-the rate of changing directions and

speed,for instance, a car might go 14mph north, then go 20 mph west

• 4) G-force-a kind of gravity that has 2 objects with mass attract each other. It differs on the mass and distance it has, like a bigger object pulls smaller objects to itself.

Rollercoaster Terms cont.• 5) potential energy-depends on the object’s

mass and height, like a rollercoaster getting ready to go down the 1st hill of the ride

• 6) kinetic energy-energy that an object has depending on its motion. It also depends on the mass and speed, like a rollercoaster hitting its lowest point to reach its highest point of kinetic energy

• 7) centripetal force-force that pushes an object in a direction, like the moon is pulled to the Earth

MaterialsA) 2 six foot sections of ¾ inch inner

diameter, thin wall, pipe insulation track

B) 1 marble C) cup (to catch marble at end of track) D) ~ 8 twenty cm sections of masking

tape E) Timer (preferably a stopwatch) F) Balance G) Digital camera

How a Rollercoaster Works

• 1) Does a coaster have an engine? No • 2) What conversion process drives a roller coaster?

Potential energy to kinetic energy drives the roller coaster.

• 3) When you are at the top of a hill, what type of energy is this called? Potential energy.

• 4) What is the difference between wooden and steel coasters? Wooden coasters are slower, not great with turns, and don ‘t have loops. Steel coasters are faster, has lots of turns, and has loops.

Additional features of Roller Coaster

• clothoid loop- It has a smaller radius than a full loop.

• Inertia- If an object is at rest it will not move, or if an object is going at a steady pace, it will not change unless an outside force acts upon it.

• heart rate- a measurement of how many heart beats in an amount of time

Normal Heart Rate• You use the PASCO probes by attaching the clip

to your finger or earlobe.• Then you press the big green button that has a

“play” mark on it.• Wait for as long as you need to measure your

heart rate.• Then you press that button again.• The final result will show on the screen.• My resting heart rate is 52 per 30 seconds.

Narration of your Roller Coaster

At the top of the hill, you’ll discover the potential energy. You’re also feeling the velocity going in different directions. You’re also feeling the gravity pulling you down from the first hill. Then you’ll feel the acceleration when you feel the twists and turns along the ride of the roller coaster. The G-force determines how safe a ride is.

Results of Coaster

• I only went on Medusa. My heart rate was on average 90 heart beats for ~ 22 seconds before the 1st hill.

Conclusion How does physics explain the motion of a Roller Coaster?• Physics explains how fast a roller coaster goes.• It also explains how to determine how long the ride is by

accelertion.• Another thing is to learn about why the roller coaster has a certain

structure, like it explains the 1st hill is the tallest and the elliptical loop of the ride.