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Roller Coaster Physics. Roller coasters are the ultimate thrill rides. It is pulled to the top of the lift hill, but then how does it keep going without a motor to pull it?. Look at this roller coaster: http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/rides/coasters/millennium_force/
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Roller Coaster Physics Roller coasters are the ultimate thrill rides. It is pulled to the top of the lift hill, but then how does it keep going without a motor to pull it?
Look at this roller coaster: http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/rides/coasters/millennium_force/ How do you think it works?
Isaac Newton Read this biography of Isaac Newton http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Newton.html Write down 3 important contributions Newton made to physics or math.
Roller Coaster History http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/coaster2.html The history of roller coasters is interesting. Read the short history in the link above.
First Law of Motion Read about the First Law of Motion here: http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/forces/newton/newtonLaw1.html Click on the link towards the end to go to the demonstration.
Second Law of Motion Now look at this link to discover the Second Law of Motion: http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/forces/newton/newtonLaw2.html
Third Law of Motion Finally, check out Newton's Third Law of Motion: http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/forces/newton/newtonLaw3.html
Potential Energy Read about potential energy: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/energy/u5l1b.cfm Which type of potential energy pertains to roller coasters?
Kinetic Energy http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/energy/U5L1c.cfm Click above to learn about kinetic energy. Do the problems at the end of the page.
Centripetal Force http://regentsprep.org/regents/physics/phys06/bcentrif/default.htm Above is a discussion of centripetal force. It comes into play in roller coasters, too!
Now take a look at this roller coaster: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raptor_(roller_coaster) Using what you learned, explain how it works
Types of Coasters Read this for some information about the different types of coasters: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/roller-coaster8.htm
The “Perfect” Roller Coaster Now that you learned all about the forces involved and different types of roller coasters, try sketching your own version of a “perfect” roller coaster. Write a paragraph describing the coaster and what happens at different points throughout the ride.
Resources “Amusement Park Physics – Roller Coaster.” Annenberg Lerner. http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/coaster2.html (Jan 24, 2011). “Centripetal Force – The Real Force.” Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center. http://regentsprep.org/regents/physics/phys06/bcentrif/default.htm (Jan 24, 2011). Harris, Tom. “How Roller Coasters Work.” TLC. http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/roller-coaster8.htm (Jan 24, 2011). “Kinetic Energy.” The Physics Classroom. http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/energy/U5L1c.cfm (Jan 24, 2011). “Millenium Force.” Cedar Point. http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/rides/coasters/millennium_force/ (Jan 24, 2011). “Newton's First Law of Motion.” Zona Land Education. http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/forces/newton/newtonLaw1.html (Jan 24, 2011). “Newton's Second Law of Motion.” Zona Land Education. http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/forces/newton/newtonLaw2.html (Jan 24, 2011).
Resources • “Newton's Third Law of Motion.” Zona Land Education. http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/forces/newton/newtonLaw3.html (Jan 24, 2011). “Potential Energy.” The Physics Classroom. http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/energy/u5l1b.cfm (Jan 24, 2011). “Raptor (roller coaster).” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raptor_(roller_coaster) (Jan 24, 2011). Weisstein, Eric W. “Newton, Isaac (1642-1727).” Science World. http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Newton.html (Jan 24, 2011).