Gabby+and+Maxx

= Gabby and Maxx's Great Adventure Project = toc __** NITRO **__

Activity A: **First drop of a roller coaster**
http://everywheremag.com/people/RightBrain
 * Picture:**


 * Data Collected at Six Flags:**


 * Data:**

[]


 * FBD Diagrams:**

Car on Way Up Car on Way Down Car at Bottom Mass on String at Way Up Mass on String at Way Down Mass on String at Bottom
 * Pictures and Videos:**

Side View http://www.cphelps.id.au/rollercoasters/bestrides.htm

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89XkXOlPZdY


 * Sketches of Relevant Portion:**

Side Sketch Top Sketch
 * Graphs:**
 * Evaluate:**

Many features were in place to ensure the safety of the ride, Nitro. There was a metal circular lap bar that prevented the rider from sliding out of the ride while going up and down the drops and while turning. There were also metal handles that the rider could hold on to for his/her own safety and to make them feel more secure while traveling through the roller coaster.
 * 1. What safety features were in place?**

On the way up Nitro, the rider felt heavier than his/her normal weight as a result of the large angle of the incline that was pushing the rider backwards. However, on the way down Nitro, the rider felt much lighter than his/her normal weight since there was still a large incline angle, but this time, it was pushing the rider forwards. At the bottom of the first hill, the rider feels at his/her normal weight since there is no incline angle.
 * 2. Describe the weight sensations on the way up, on the way down, and at the bottom of the first hill. Do you feel lighter, heavier, or normal?**

The excitement level on the way up was not great since there wasn't a high acceleration and the cart was traveling at a slow, steady velocity up the incline. The only excitement experienced by the rider was one of nerves for the upcoming drop. At the drop, on the way down, the excitement level drastically increased since there was rapid acceleration and speed and the drop caused the rider to feel lighter than his/her weight. At the bottom of the incline, there were no apparent excitement sensations.
 * 3. Describe the excitement level on the way up, on the way down, and at the bottom of the first hill.**

The great acceleration and velocity and the large drops all were thrill factors that contributed to feelings of excitement. A less tangible thrill factor was the anticipation and nerves that occurred as the rider was waiting on line and traveling up the incline.
 * 4. Describe the thrill factors that may contribute to those feelings.**


 * Calculations:**
 * Experimental Values:**


 * Theoretical Values:**
 * Evaluate Accuracy of Calculations Above:**

Our accuracy all around was not terrible, considering the difficulty of taking measurements of a roller coaster. For the speed, we got a slightly high percent error of 28.9%. In addition, our acceleration was higher than we would have wanted, at 45.8%. Possible reasons for this was that the theoretical and experimental distance were off as a result of human error, and therefore, the velocities and accelerations were affected. Also, for each trial that we timed the roller coaster, we got slightly different times, therefore, causing our average time to not be as accurate as expected. A way to prevent these sources of error is to perform even more trials and perhaps measure distances at a closer location. However, considering time constraints and limitations to how close we could get to the actual roller coaster, our percent error is decent. We maintained a relatively low percent error for power, proving that our data collected for this section of the analysis was pretty accurate.

Yes. The roller coaster's g's were .93 which is less than the safe limits of 4 g's.
 * Evaluate Safety:**
 * 1. Were the g's within safe limits?**

Yes, there was a clear correlation between the g's and the excitement level. As the number of g's increases, the level of excitement increases as well. Evidence for this can be found comparing the way up the roller coaster and the way down, in addition to analyzing the thrill vs. acceleration graph above. There is no acceleration on the way up, and therefore, no g's. On the other hand, on the way down, the g's increase, just as the excitement level increases in the rider.
 * 2. Was there correlation bewteen g's and excitement level? Explain, providing evidence.**


 * Thinking About Physics:**

As the rider travels up the hill, the mass on the string would move towards him/her. At the top, before the cart begins to travel down the hill, the mass was hanging straight down, even with the rider. As the rider then travels down the hill, the mass of the string would move away from him/her. Therefore, the FBD of the cart does correlate to that of the mass. The mass, in this case, serves to act as an aplomb.
 * 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, as the number of g's increases, the sensation of weight (the apparent weight) increases, as well.
 * 2. Did the # of g's correlate to the sensation of weight?**


 * 3. Discuss the graphs that you created and why they curve the way that they do.**

The distance vs. time graph shows a slow, steady, initial incline because in the beginning, the ride is moving at a slow velocity and therefore, takes longer to travel a certain distance. However, it then goes into a steeper slope because as the cart travels down the large incline, the cart gains more and more speed and acceleration. It is therefore, able to cover a greater distance in a much smaller amount of time.
 * D vs. T**

The velocity vs. time graph shows an initial constant velocity as the cart travels up the incline. However, once the cart travels down the incline, the acceleration increases, causing the velocity to increase, as well.
 * V vs. T**

The acceleration vs. time graph shows no initial acceleration at the beginning of the ride because the cart is traveling at a constant velocity up the incline. When the car goes down the incline, however, the acceleration clearly increases.
 * A vs. T**

The thrill vs. acceleration graph initially shows minimal slope at the beginning because there is no acceleration. However, as the ride goes down the incline and continues on, the amount of thrill the rider experiences increases as the acceleration increases.
 * Thrill vs. A**

__** SUPERMAN **__

**Activity B**: A vertical loop of a roller coaster
http://www.coasterforce.com/world-park-guides/us-park-guides/midwest/six-flags-great-america/great-america-coasters/superman-ultimate-flight
 * Picture:**


 * Data Collected at Six Flags:**




 * Data:**

[]


 * FBD Diagrams:**


 * FBD of Car at Top:**


 * FBD of Mass on a String:**


 * Pictures and Videos:**

Side View

http://www.coastergallery.com/1999/ga74.html

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEvNEu3xlxk


 * Sketches of Relevant Portion**

Side View


 * Graphs:**

__V vs. t__

__Fc vs. t__

__A vs. t__ __Thrill vs. A__


 * Evaluate:**

The main safety feature on this roller coaster is the bar that keeps you in place for the duration of the ride. It goes over your head before the ride begins and gently locks you in place. There are also buckles to attach to the bar to even further ensure safety.
 * 1. Describe the safety features on this coaster.**

The excitement level should be the highest at the bottom of the loop because that is where the most g's are. At the top of the loop us when one tends to feel "weightless" so there is excitement there too, even though you do not really feel like you are upside down at that point. At the side of the loop, there is still excitement just not as high as in the other two areas.
 * 2. Describe the excitement level that you felt at the top, side, and bottom of the loop.**

The speed and height of the roller coaster are both thrill factors that may contribute to those feelings. It is high up and also goes relatively fast. Additionally, the fact that people are standing up during this ride may contribute to that.
 * 3. Describe the thrill factors that may contribute to those feelings (besides the #g's)**

Bottom: The bottom of the loop is where I felt heaviest. Top: At the top, there is the "weightless" sensation where I felt extremely light. Side: At the side of the loop I felt relatively normal.
 * 4. Describe the weight sensations at the top, side, and bottom of the loop: did you feel lighter, heavier, or normal?**


 * Calculations:**
 * Experimental Values:**


 * Theoretical Values:**






 * Percent Error**





We achieved extremely accurate results for our calculations of speed and acceleration for Superman. We maintained very low percent errors of 1.36% and 2.84%. A possible reason that these errors were much more minimal than the errors that we faced in part A could have been as a result of our extremely consistent data. We compared data with a variety of groups who had very similar measurements.

Yes, they are within safe limits because the number of g's we calculated at the top of the loop is definitely less than the amount of g's it would take for someone to pass out. We calculated 1.48 g's which is less than the safety requirements of 4 g's.
 * Evaluate Safety:**
 * 1. Were the #g's within safe limits?**

Yes, there is definitely a correlation between the two. When there is the greatest number of g's, like at the bottom for example, people tend to scream the loudest which shows a definite correlation between g's and excitement level.
 * 2. Was there a correlation between #g's and excitement level? Explain, provide evidence.**

Yes, because that is exactly what happened with the string.
 * Thinking About 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 the sensation of weight increased as the number of g's did as well.
 * 2. Did the #g's correlate to the sensation of weight?**


 * 3. Discuss the graphs that you created and why they curve the way that they do.**

__Velocity vs. Time:__ The velocity decreased towards the top of the roller coaster. It reached zero towards the top, and then increased after the loop as it went down. __Centripetal Force vs. Time:__ The centripetal force decreased as we approached the top of the loop. __Acceleration vs. Time:__ There was a negative acceleration as we went up in the loop. Then, at the top, the acceleration was zero like it is at max. height. There was a positive acceleration going down.

__** FERRIS WHEEL **__

**Activity C**: A rotating ride
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/six_flags_st._louis/colossus_ferris_wheel/
 * Picture:**


 * Data Collected at Six Flags:**



[]
 * Data:**


 * FBD Diagrams:**

Car at Minimum Height

Car at Maximum Height Mass on String at Maximum and Minimum Height
 * Pictures and Videos**

Side View http://www.flickriver.com/photos/slapshots/tags/kingdom/

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEm4v8UnxuY


 * Sketches of Relevant Portion:**

Side Sketch Top Sketch
 * Graphs:**
 * Evaluate:**

Many features were in place to ensure the safety of the ferris wheel. The cart itself was enclosed. There were gates surrounding all sides of the cart to prevent the rider from falling out. There were places to hold onto inside the cart, as well. These carts were extremely sturdy and could support a lot of weight.
 * 1. Describe the safety features of this ride.**

There was very little change in excitement level on the ferris wheel. The only excitement experienced by the rider would be as it reaches max height, one's excitement increases as a result of its extreme height. However, since the ride did not accelerate or move at a fast velocity, the excitement level was minimal compared to a roller coaster.
 * 2. Describe the excitement level that you feel at the min/max height.**

The extreme height of the ferris wheel contributed largely to any thrill the rider experienced. Looking over the gates and seeing how high up one is definitely increased one's excitement level.
 * 3. Describe the thrill factors that may contribute to those feelings.**

Since there wasn't much speed on the ferris wheel, weight sensations didn't change much from the top, side, or bottom of the loop. However, as the ride continued to travel upwards, the rider does feel lighter as it goes towards max height.
 * 4. Describe the weight sensations at the top, side, and bottom of the loop. Did you feel lighter, heavier, or normal?**