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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
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