The Roller Coaster

1
The Roller Coaster

• Samuel Kilpela

2
Overview

• History
• Todays Coasters
• The Physics
• Gravity-Potential Energy
• Velocity-Kinetic Energy
• Conservation of Energy
• Friction
• Centripetal Acceleration
• G-Forces
• Free Fall/Projectile Motion
• Clothoid Loops

3
Safety vs. Sensation

• The fine line. . .

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The Beginning

• 1827, Pennsylvania
• Gravity Railroad
• 9 miles long

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Early Coasters

• End of 19th Century
• Railway companies looking for more revenue
• 1884 - The Gravity Switchback Train

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First Inverted Ride

• Fatal results at first
• 1898 Flip-Flap Railway
• Riders necks snapped

7
Types - Wooden

• Limited
• Cumbersome
• Mainly drops

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Types Tubular Steel

• Much smoother
• Inversions, corkscrews, etc. . .
• Suspended coasters
• Higher and faster

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Gravity and Potential Energy

• Driving force of coasters
• U mgh
• U increases with h.

10
Velocity and Kinetic Energy

• Energy of Motion
• K ½ m v2
• K increases with v

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Conservation of Energy

• E K U

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Friction

• Main cause of energy leaks
• Nonconservative force
• Causes change in total mechanical energy

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Centripetal Acceleration
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Centripetal Force
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Inertia

• Inertia the resistance an object has to a
  change in its state of motion.

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G-Forces

• The force you feel
• 1 G Force you feel at rest at the surface of
  earth
• Max 3-4 G
• Black out at 10 Gs

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Free Fall/Projectile Motion

• Causes feeling of weightlessness

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Projectile Motion

• Calculate path of projectile motion to simulate
  weightlessness

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Clothoid Loops

• Milestone for inversions
• Much safer
• Allows lower entry speed

20
Kingda Ka

• Six Flags, New Jersey
• 128 mph
• 456 ft

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Top Thrill Dragster

• Cedar Point, Ohio
• 120 mph
• 420 ft

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Bibliography

• http//ffden2.phys.uaf.edu/211_fall2002.web.dir/Sh
  awna_Sastamoinen/Roller_Coasters.htm
• http//www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/project
  s/frig/yepbyrji/coaster.html
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_coaster
• http//www.rcdb.com/
• http//www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/
• http//science.howstuffworks.com/roller-coaster.ht
  m