Physics behind Loop-the-loops
Title of Source:
How Roller Coasters Work
APA Citation (copy from EasyBib):
Harris, Tom. "How Roller Coasters Work." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
Credibility (more than EasyBib said so):
-have more than 50 well-known awards
Notes/Paraphrasing:
Loops
-as you approach one, your inertial velocity is straight ahead of you
-track keeps you from becoming a projectile
-your inertia keeps you fixed to the bottom of the car, even when upside down
-net force changes as you move across loop-the-loop
-at the bottom of the loop acceleration pushing you down as is inertia, feel heaviest
-at the top gravity pulling you down, and inertia is keeping you in seat, feel heaviest
- Acceleration determined by the speed of object and angle of the turn
- Starts loop at top speed, and slows down at top
- to build up acceleration that can push the object to the top, there needs to be a loop
-speed can’t be too fast at beginning of loop because it will be uncomfortable/awkward for the object
- teardrop shape because turn is sharper at top than any other place, giving it a big force to pass top, but then enough so that the sides (of loop) will slow it down (and object won’t go shooting out)
Summary: Loop-the-loops are a teardrop shape because the angle at the top of the loop has to be sharper than the sides so that it will have enough energy to pass the top while at the same time be the right size so that the sides will cancel out some of the objects force (on its way down).
Question/Statement:
Dips and Hills
Title of Source:
Roller Coasters and Amusement Parks Physics
APA Citation (copy from EasyBib):
"Amusement Park Physics." Amusement Park Physics. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2014.
Credibility (more than EasyBib said so):
-Teachers use it all the time to teach students
Notes/Paraphrasing:
-riders feel heaviest while ascending the hill
- Riders are for a moment in a state of free fall as they go down the hill
- Top and bottom of hill are where riders experience circular motion
- In this circular motion or part of the circle, there is an inward acceleration (pulls object down towards center of circle) -centripetal force comes from the track pushing normal to the track surface
-Region B= centripetal force= force of gravity
- Region D= centripetal force= normal force of