| The Ups and Downs of Physics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by: Denise Casey & Kay Casey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hi! Welcome to our webpage! We are students in Dr. Doughty's Honors-Physics class at Allen High School in Allen, Texas. This page gives a brief overview of our research project. We researched the history of roller coasters as well as the theory of physics behind their operation. Additionally, we did a more detailed study of the Corkscrew roller coaster at Valleyfair Amusement Park in Shakopee, Minnesota.
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Roller coasters first began in St. Petersburg, Russia in the 1400�s in the form of ice slides. Sand was used to slow the sled down at the end of the ride. The first European roller coaster was opened in Paris in 1804 and was named The Russian Mountain. The first looped roller coaster was called the Centrifuge Railway and was located in France during the 1850�s. The Flip-Flap Railway, constructed in 1898, was the second attempt at the loop design. It was constructed with a true circle loop. The force on the passengers caused numerous riders to �snap their necks�. Here is a brief overview of the physics of roller coasters: The train is brought to the top of the first hill through the use of a machine. Potential energy is converted to kinetic energy on the initial drop. As the ride progresses, both types of energy decrease and momentum runs out. Friction and drag cause the roller coaster to slow down. As a result, the hills following the initial one progressively become smaller. As the track increases in elevation, a car will descend with a faster acceleration. After the train ascends from a drop, inertia is in effect. The force that �pushes� the passenger to his seat is a result of inertia. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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The maximum velocity of the front car is 22.648 m/s after 5.33 seconds. It occurs when the front car is beginning to go into the loop. The minumum velocity of the front car is 7.854 m/s after 2.40 seconds. It occurs when the train is evenly placed on the loop. The velocity of the front car at the top of the loop is 12.287 m/s after 1.6 seconds. The velocity of the front car at the bottom of the loop is approximately 22.648 m/s after 0.533 seconds. | The maximum velocity of the middle car is 22.76 m/s after 0.267 seconds. The minumum velocity of the middle car is 8.429 m/s after 2.13 seconds. The velocity of the middle car at the top of the loop is 9.064 m/s after 2.53 seconds. The velocity of the middle car at the bottom of the loop is approximately 19.301 m/s after 0.80 seconds. The maximum acceleration of the front car is 49.146 m/s after 1.07 seconds. The minumum acceleration of the front car is 9.209 m/s after 3.33 seconds. The accleeration of the front car at the top of the loop is 26.047 m/s after 1.60 seconds. The acceleration of the front car at the bottom of the loop is approximately 25.537 m/s after 0.533 seconds. The maximum acceleration of the middle car is 30.888 m/s after 1.6 seconds. The minumum acceleration of the middle car is 11.539 m/s after 3.33 seconds. The accleeration of the middle car at the top of the loop is 16.805 m/s after 2.53 seconds. The acceleration of the middle car at the bottom of the loop is approximately 23.096 m/s after 0.80 seconds.
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