Physics of Roller Coasters

http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/duk_/lessons/duk_rollercoaster_music_less/duk_rollercoaster_music_less.xmllessontext/xmlPhysics of Roller CoastersEngineering K-Ph.D. Program, roller coastergravityfrictionpotential energykinetic energyg-forceForceGravitySpeedVelocityCritical VelocityAccelerationFrictionPotential EnergyKinetic EnergyGravitational ConstantG-Force

Students explore the physics utilized by engineers in designing today’s roller coasters, including potential and kinetic energy, friction, and gravity. First, students learn that all true roller coasters are completely driven by the force of gravity and that the conversion between potential and kinetic energy is essential to all roller coasters. Second, they also consider the role of friction in slowing down cars in roller coasters. Finally, they examine the acceleration of roller coaster cars as they travel around the track. During the associated activity, the students design, build, and analyze a roller coaster for marbles out of foam tubing.

Students explore the most basic physical principles of roller coasters, which are crucial to the initial design process for engineers building roller coasters. They will learn about the possibilities and limitations of roller coasters within the context of energy conservation, frictional losses, and other physical principles. After the lessons, students should be able to analyze the motion of any existing gravity-driven coaster and design the basics of their own roller coasters.Explain why it is important for an engineer to know how a roller coaster works. Explain in physics terms how a roller coaster works. Discuss the effects of gravity and friction in the context of their roller coaster designs. Use the principle of conservation of energy to explain the layout of roller coasters. Identify points in a roller coaster track at which the car has maximum kinetic energy and maximum potential energy. Identify points in a roller coaster track where the car experiences more or less than one g-force. Identify points in a roller coaster track where the car accelerates and decelerates. 30TeachEngineering.orgScott LiddleBennett, David. Roller Coaster. Aurum Ltd., 1999.http://www.rcdb.com/http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_%28roller_coaster)http://search.eb.com/coasters/ride.htmlhttp://www.myphysicslab.com/RollerSimple.htmlS1028413North_CarolinaScience1.01 Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.66S1028419North_CarolinaScience1.04 Analyze variables in scientific investigations. • Identify dependent and independent.66S102841ENorth_CarolinaScience1.05 Analyze evidence to: • Explain observations.66S1028421North_CarolinaScience1.06 Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations: • Measurement.66S1028437North_CarolinaScience2.03 Evaluate technological designs for: • Application of scientific principles.66S10284AFNorth_CarolinaScience1.01 Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.77S10284B5North_CarolinaScience1.04 Analyze variables in scientific investigations: • Identify dependent and independent.77S10284BANorth_CarolinaScience1.05 Analyze evidence to: • Explain observations.77S10284BDNorth_CarolinaScience1.06 Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations: • Measurement.77S10284D2North_CarolinaScience2.03 Evaluate technological designs for: • Application of scientific principles.77S1028520North_CarolinaScience6.03 Evaluate motion in terms of Newton's Laws: The force of friction retards motion. 77S1028527North_CarolinaScience6.05 Describe and measure quantities that characterize moving objects and their interactions within a system: • Time.77S1028531North_CarolinaScience1.01 Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.88S1028537North_CarolinaScience1.04 Analyze variables in scientific investigations: • Identify dependent and independent.88S102853CNorth_CarolinaScience1.05 Analyze evidence to: • Explain observations.88S102853FNorth_CarolinaScience1.06 Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations: • Measurement.88S1028556North_CarolinaScience2.03 Evaluate technological designs for: • Application of scientific principles.88United StatesCopyright 2012 - Engineering K-Ph.D. Program, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke Universityhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2008-09-267Teacher