Ryan+H.+and+John+C.

=Roller Coaster Activity =

Picture and Video: Data:  Diagrams: FBD on way up:
 * Activity A: The First Drop of a Roller Coaster : Runaway Train **



FBD on way down:  FBD at bottom of hill: FBD of mass on string on way up: FBD of mass on string on way down: FBD of mass at bottom of hill: Graphs:   Labelled side view: Labelled top view: Rider Evaluation 1. What safety features were in place? Lap bars, brakes, and an evacuation platform. 2. Describe the weight sensations on the way up, on the way down, and at the bottom of the first hill: did you feel lighter, heavier, or normal? Heavier on the way up, lighter on the way down. Felt normal at the bottom 3. Describe the excitement on the way up, on the way down, and at the bottom of the first hill. Excitement built while going up the hill, then increased greatly while going down the hills. 4. Describe the thrill factors that may contribute to those feelings (besides the # of g's). Other factors could be the high velocity, great tilt of turns, and the apprehension of seeing the drops/hills in front of you.

Experimental Values: a. Speed at bottom of first hill <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">b. Acceleration down first hill <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">c. Power needed to get up hill

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Theoretical Values:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">a. Speed at bottom of first hill <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">b. Acceleration down first hill <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">c. Power needed to get up hill

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Percent Difference: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Safety Evaluation: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">a. #g's on way down hill and at bottom <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">b. Were the #g's within safe limits? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Yes, the roller coaster operated within the safety limits. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">c. Was there a correlation between #g's and excitement level? Explain, providing evidence. Yes. As show in the thrill vs acceleration graph, as acceleration (and level of g's) increases, as does thrill/excitement.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thinking about the Physics: 1.Explain the behavior of the mass on the string. Did the FBD of the car correlate to that of the mass? Why or why not? Yes, the mass should have correlated since it acts as an aplomb. 2. Did the #g's correlate to the sensation of weight? Yes, an increase in g's corresponds to an increase in apparent weight. 3. Discuss the graphs you created and way they curve the way that they do.
 * Distance vs Time
 * Due to the slow initial velocity,, distance is covered at a slow rate. Since velocity goes to 0 at the top of the hill, distance becomes covered very slowly. As velocity increases while going down the hill, it begins to cover more distance.
 * Velocity vs Time
 * Velocity is constant as the train travels up the hill, but due to acceleration while going down, the velocity increases.
 * Acceleration vs Time
 * There is no acceleration as the train travels up the hill due to constant velocity, but as it goes down the hill, the acceleration increases.
 * Thrill vs Acceleration
 * The thrill increases as the coaster nears the top of the hill, and then even more so as the acceleration increases down the hill.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Activity B: A Vertical Loop of a Roller Coaster : Superman **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Data: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Diagrams: FBD of Rider at top:

FBD of mass on string at top: Labelled top view: Labelled side view: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Graphs: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Safety Evaluation: 1. Describe the safety features on this coaster Safety straps, overhead harness, and an evacuation platform. 2. Describe the excitement level that you felt at the top, side, and bottom of the loop. Felt most excited at the top, and decreased on the way down. 3. Describe the thrill factors that may contribute to those feelings (besides the #g's) Other thrill factors might be the high speed, the confusion of being turned upside down, and the positioning of the seat that makes riders feel like they are 'flying.' 4. Describe the weight sensations at the top, side, and bottom of the loop: did you feel lighter, heavier, or normal? We felt lighter at the top, normal on the sides, and higher at the bottom.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thinking about the Physics: 1. Explain the behavior of the mass on the string. Did the FBD of the car correlate to that of the mass? Why or why not? Yes, because it behaved like an aplomb. 2. Did the #g's correlate to the sensation of weight? Yes, as the acceleration/#g's increased, the sensation of weight went up as well. 3. Discuss the graphs that you created and why they look the way they do.
 * Centripetal Force vs Time
 * The centripetal force increased as you get to the top.
 * Velocity vs Time
 * Velocity decreases towards the top, reaches 0 at the very top, and increases after the loop.
 * Acceleration vs Time
 * There is a negative acceleration going up the loop, zero acceleration at the top, and positive going back down.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Activity C: A Rotating Ride (horizontal): Tea Cups **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Data: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Diagrams: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Graphs: FBD: Mass on String:

Labelled Side View:

Labelled Top View:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Rider Evaluation: 1. Describe the safety features on this ride The ride had a locked door for each teacup, and an emergency stop switch which would stop all rotating. 2. Describe the excitement level that you felt at the max speed. At max speed, the high number of g's and the varying rotations of the rider caused great excitement, as well as nausea. 3. Describe the thrill factors that may contribute to those feelings (besides the #g's). Besides for the #g's, the varying rotations of the cup, it's platform, and the main platform, as well as the high speed and feeling of being tossed around added to the thrill. 4. Describe the weight sensations. Did you feel lighter, heavier, or normal? While towards the center of the ride, we felt lighter, but while nearing the outside of the circle, we felt heavier.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Experimental Values:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">a. Average speed <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">b. Centripetal acceleration <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">c. Apparent weight <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Theoretical Values: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Theoretical period: .117 (7 rpm) ([]) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">a. Average speed <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">b. Centripetal acceleration <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">c. Apparent weight <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Percent Difference: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Safety Evaluation: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">a. #g's <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The # of g's was safe, as determined by a value of 0.815. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">b. Was there correlation between #g's and excitement level? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Yes, as the #g's went up, the excitement level did as well.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Physics Integration: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">a. Explain the behavior of the mass on the string. Did the FBD of the car correlate to that of the mass? Besides for the centripetal force on the rider, the FBD of the rider correlated to that of the mass (there was no force pulling the mass on the x-axis). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">b. Discuss the graphs that you created and why they curve the way that they do.


 * Centripetal Force vs Time
 * The centripetal force went up as the teacup gained speed over time, and declined as it slowed down.
 * Acceleration vs Time
 * The ride accelerated at first, spun at a constant speed in the middle of the ride, and then decreased in speed to a stop to end it.
 * Thrill vs Acceleration
 * The thrill increased as the acceleration did.

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