Science Exit Project

Title: Roller Coaster Physics: Potential vs. Kinetic energy

Research Question: How does the design of a roller coaster influence potential and kinetic energy?

NAME: JURNEE A. SIMSCLASS: 802SCHOOL: PS/MS 278TEACHER: MR. JACKSON - SCIENCE

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ………………………PAGE 1

HYPOTHESIS ……………………………PAGE 2

MATERIALS…………………………..….PAGE 3

VARIABLES …………………………..…PAGE 4

PROCEDURE ………………………...…PAGE 5

RESEARCH DATA……………………..PAGE 6,7

RESEARCH DATA ANALYSIS…….PAGE 8,9

CONCLUSION…………………………...PAGE 10

PICTURES…………………………………PAGE 11,12

BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………..PAGE 13

Introduction

My science exit project will be an experiment-based project. My

project will be about roller coaster physics: potential vs. kinetic energy.

Therefore, I wondered how does the design of a roller coaster influence

potential and kinetic energy. I believe that if a roller coaster goes down a

steeper slope it will have more kinetic energy at that time and less potential

energy because kinetic energy is based on the movement of objects whereas,

potential energy is based on the height of a roller coasters, I chose this topic

because I love roller coasters and always wondered what form of energy

went into the roller coaster’s movement. I am hoping to find out about the

two formulas of the two types of energy and how they are used to build

roller casters. This project will help people see how much physics and math

goes into designing and building a roller coaster. It will also help engineers

determine how high/steep a roller coaster will be to produce a certain speed.

Lastly, the formulas will help engineers make roller coasters safer and more

efficient.

Hypothesis

My hypothesis for my experiment is if a roller coaster goes down a

steeper slope it will have more kinetic energy at that time and less potential

energy because kinetic energy is based on the movement of objects whereas,

potential energy is based on height the roller coasters. I chose this

hypothesis based on my observation of how fast a roller coaster travels down

different slopes at different times.

Materials

K’nex roller coaster kit

Measuring tape

Stop watch

Poster

Glue

Computer

Paper (blank white and construction)

Scissor

Triple Beam Balance

Variables

Independent Variable: The steepness of the roller coaster

Dependent Variable: The amount of Potential and kinetic energy

Constant Variables: Car, roller coaster, stopwatch, measuring tape, triple

beam balance

Procedure

Step 1: Go to Toys R’ Us and purchase 1-k’nex kit.

Step 2: Put together 1 roller coaster with two different slopes

Step 3: Determine the 2 formulas to use, which are kinetic, and potential

energy.

Step 4: Set the car at the top of the slope and measure the distance from the

top to bottom

Step 5: Record how fast the car goes does the first slope using a stopwatch

Step 6: Then determine the velocity (distance/time)

Step 7: Next determine the amount of the kinetic energy (K=1/2mv2)

Step 8: Now determine the amount potential energy (Ug= mgh)

Step 9: Repeat steps 4-8 on the second slope

Step 10: Record all data in a table and graphs

Step 11: Lastly, determine which slope has more kinetic and potential

energy

Research Data

The first roller coaster was made in Russia in the 1600’s. But back

then there wasn’t as much physics that went into the process of making

roller coasters. Potential and kinetic energy play a huge role in the

production of roller coasters. As a roller coaster ascends higher on the track

gravity pulls it down. According to science.howstuffworks.com “Potential

energy is the stored when a roller coaster goes up a slope” and “kinetic

energy is the energy that takes you down the hill”. Also, according to

science.howstuffworks.com “Potential and kinetic energy are never equal at

the top or bottom of the tracks”. In order to calculate the amount of potential

energy the roller coasters contains, you would use the equation: ug=mgh. Ug

represents potential energy, m= mass in the use of kilograms, g=gravity, and

h= the distance above ground in meters. In order to find kinetic energy you

have to use the equation k=1/2mv2. According to Sastamainer k represents

kinetic energy, v represents velocity in meters, and m represents mass in

kilometers. However, I changed the meters into centimeters.

According to dictionary.com velocity is defined as

“the time rate of change of position of abody in a specified direction”.

To calculate velocity use the formula velocity =d/t, where d is equal to

distance and t is equal to time. “As the roller coaster train begins it’s descend

from the lift hill, its velocity increases.” (Sastamainer page 3). According to

the law of conservations of energy, energy cannot be created or

destroyed. But it can be converted to other forms. “ As the train accelerated

down the life hill, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.” This

process is called the conservation of mechanical energy.

Data Analysis

Slope 1:

Time(sec)Distance(cm)

0.61 86 0.62 860.51 860.62 860.62 86

average: 0.60 86

1 2 3 4 50

102030405060708090

100

Time(sec)Distance(cm)

Calculations

VelocityVelocity: distance/timeVelocity: 86/.60Velocity: 143.3cm/s

Kinetic Energy K=1/2mv2 K=1/2(16.2) (143.3)2

K=1/1 (16.2) 20,534.9 K=8.1*20,534.9 K= 166,332.7 gcm2/s2

Potential EnergyUg= mghUg= (16.29)(9.8)(86)Ug=158.76(86)Ug=13,653.4 gcm2/s2

Slope 2:

Time Distance

0.84 410.8 41

0.84 410.83 410.82 41

average: .83 411 2 3 4 5 6

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Time Distance

Calculations for slope 2

VelocityVelocity=distance/timeVelocity= 41/.83Velocity=49.4 cm/s

Potential EnergyUg=mghUg= (16.2)(9.8)(33)Ug=158.76(33)Ug=5,239.1gcm2/s2

Kinetic energyK=1/2mv2

K=1/2(16.2)(49.4)2

K=1/2(16.2) 2440.4K=19,767.2 gcm2/s2

Conclusion

In the beginning of my experiment I believed that if a roller coaster

goes down a steeper slope it will have more kinetic energy at that time and

less potential energy because kinetic energy is based on the movement of

objects whereas, potential energy is based on the height of a roller coaster.

After conducting the experiment I came to that conclusion that my

hypothesis was indeed correct. I found out that the higher things go, the

more kinetic energy it will have. Therefore there will be less potential. This

can help engineers determine how fast and how much kinetic energy a roller

coaster will have. Next time I would like to have many different slopes so I

can see the calculations of many other slopes. However, I highly recommend

this project to others because it helps others see the math and calculations

that go into making roller coasters.

This is a picture of the roller coaster I designed

for my project.

This shows the relationship of potential and kinetic energy

when the car is at the top and bottom of a slope

Bibliography

www.Science.howstuffworks.com

www.Dictionary.com

www.Teachengineering.com

www.real-world-physics-problems.com

www.chem.wisc.edu

Book: Roller Coaster Physics’ The Science behind the Thrills.

Author Shawna Sastamainer , University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Physics 211X, Fall 2002