Carl Quicksall

Sven Joseph
Clayton Gravatt
Jack Gavin
The Maiden China Roller Coaster Lab Write-Up

Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to assist in understanding the many physics concepts that a roller
coaster car experiences throughout the ride.
Materials:

Box(1m tall)
PVC Pipes
Lots of Duct Tape
Spray Paint, red and gold, to draw the Chinese Flag
Hosing
Knife to cut things
Cup
Round cardboard tube
Insulation
Marble
Normal Cardboard

Procedure: We started with a 1 meter tall mattress box; the cardboard provided support,
structure, and an easy to cut surface. We then decided to have a piece of PVC pipe as our first
stretch, as we needed a straight, near-frictionless area at the start to generate speed. We added
a jump immediately after, to fit the special maneuver requirement. This jump required insulation
to act as a funnel. Afterwards, we constructed a turn out of cardboard pipe leading back into the
box and a hill made out of hose. We chose cardboard pipe for its easy availability and a hose for
its malleability. This then leads back outside, to another piece of cardboard sheet that guides
the marble into another section of hose that turns back into the box, creates a hill, and finally a
jump that lands the marble in the cup at the bottom.

Data:

Drawing of Roller Coaster

Speed at point B

V=(A*T)=9.8*sin(30)*.25

1.3 m/s

Acceleration at
point B

Centripetal A=V2/r=1.32(m/s)/.75
Linter A=V/T=1.3(m/s)/1

1.69m/s2
1.3m/s2

Kinetic Energy

KE=.5*M*V2
Top of hill = .5*.075kg*02(m/s)
Bottom of hill=.5*.075kg*1.32(m/s)
Top of 2nd hill=.5*.075kg*.92(m/s)

At A=0 J
At B=.063 J
At C=.030 J

PE= M*G*H
Top of hill=.075kg*9.8(m/s2)*.086m
Bottom of hill=075kg*9.8(m/s2)*0m
Top of 2nd hill=075kg*9.8(m/s2)*.1m

At A=.063 J
At B=0 J
At C=.073 J

Work

W=M*A*D= .075kg*1.3(m/s2)*1.2m

.117 J

Power

P =W/T= .117J/5.6s=

.021 W

Potential Energy

Data Analysis/Questions:
1.
Newtons First Law: An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon. This applies to the
roller coaster by keeping the ball going down the coaster and not wanting to stop.
Newtons Second Law: Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass, and the greater
the mass, the greater the force needed. Roller coasters use gravity as the force to keep the ball
in motion down the roller coaster.
Newtons Third Law: For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action. When the track
goes upside down or does a turn, this law keeps the ball or cart from just falling out. This is
because as you push at the seat, the seat pushes back at you, holding you there.

2. If acceleration were equal to about 2 m/s2, and the hypothetical section of track were about 2
meters long, and Vf2=Vi2+2*A*D, then the final velocity for this section of track would be equal to
the square root of 02+2*2*2, or 2.82m/s.
3.
Work refers to an activity involving a force and movement in the direction of the force. Energy is
the capacity for doing work, must have energy to do work. The work-energy theorem says the
change in the kinetic energy of an object is equal to the net work done on the object. First,
potential energy has the most value at the top of a hill, and the least at the bottom. With Kinetic
energy, it has the most value at the bottom of a hill, while having the least value at the top.
4.
The height and speed have a lot to due with the amount of Kinetic and Potential energy at
specific points. The height has more to do with potential energy, since the higher you are the
more energy you could potentially produce. While the kinetic energy has a bit more to do with
speed, the faster you are going, the more energy you have at that moment, which is kinetic
energy.
5.
Gravity is pushing down on the ball, while the normal force is also pushing up on the ball.
Acceleration is pushing the ball against the track causing the ball to stay in the track.

Conclusion:
The Roller Coaster project assisted our learning of how kinetic and potential energy are applied
on hills and how work and power are involved in the physics of the real world. The project as a
whole helped in clarifying how different forces affect an object rolling through complex
maneuvers and turns by allowing us hands-on experience with these forces and manipulating
them to take the marble to the end of the track while attempting to construct this roller coaster.