Introduction
Congrats you just got a summer internship at Disney! There is a roller coaster that is being built, but the ride is traveling too fast. Your job is to try to learn about what factors affect the speed of an object, and then relate it to the roller coaster.
Task
Students will learn about momentum, energy, inertia, friction, and velocity through different links and videos. They will write a proposal with a paragraph, mathematical explaination (using equations), and a scaled drawing to submit to their new boss at the Disney head quarters. Good luck!
Process
Proposal to your new boss:
Learn about the fastest roller coasters in the world. Propose a speed that would be reasonable for the new Disney Rollercoaster, it cannot be faster than the fastest roller coaster!
http://listverse.com/2007/09/10/top-10-fastest-roller-coasters/
In the proposal make sure to impress your new boss with physics & math that show the necessary requirements for the speed you are proposing.
- What would the mass have to be?
- What would the maximum and minimum height of the roller coaster be?
- What does momentum and energy have to do with the roller coaster's velocity?
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Momentum-and-Colli…
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Work-and-Energy
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/energy/ce.cfm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/roller-coaster3…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dpBVtAbKJU
Draw a scaled drawing of a piece of the roller coaster. You don't have to draw the whole roller coaster but just where you discovered the maximum velocity would occur and explain why this is where the roller coaster would reach its maximum velocity.
Evaluation
Proposal should include:
- A minimum of 1 paragraph, a maximum of 3 parapraphs (10 points)
- Use of momentum equations (3 points)
- Use of work equations (3 points)
- Use of potential and kinetic energy equations (3 points)
- A scaled drawing of the roller coaster including labels, and the maximum place of velocity (5 points)
- Creativity and effort (1 point)
Total 20 points!
Conclusion
Now that you are finished with your proposal for fixing the new roller coaster at Disney, check over all your calculations and your explaination before handing it in to your new boss. It is important that you labeled the roller coaster and write down the scale. Make sure you emphasize the new maximum speed and what the rollercoaster needs to have!
Remember that Physics is the science that explains the physical world using mathematical proofs and equations. Its not just magic and luck that makes this all work!