Unit 8: Thrills & Chills

Essential QuestionsHow are the concepts of velocity and acceleration used when designing a rollercoaster?How does an incline angle affect the speed at which an object can reach?What is spring potential energy?What is the difference between mass and weight?How does your weight change on a rollercoaster?What are some necessary safety features on a rollercoaster?How is conservation of energy shown in rollercoasters?How are safety and thrills maximized when designing a rollercoaster?

Chapter ChallengeYou will work with a group (maximum 3 people) to design a rollercoasterDecide who your audience is (children, thrill-seekers, squeamish adults, etc.)Must include: 2 hills, 1 horizontal curveCreate a model and a poster of your rollercoasterDue date: May 10

Day 1: The Big ThrillLearning Objectives:

Draw and interpret a top view and a side view of a roller coaster rideConclude that thrills in roller coaster rides come from accelerations and changes in accelerations Define acceleration as a change in velocity with respect to time and recognize the units of accelerationBe able to measure and calculate velocity and acceleration

Starter

Starter (cont’d)How high was the tallest roller coaster?Why can steel roller coasters be taller than wooden ones?Which part of the roller coaster produces the loudest screams? Why?Time: 15 minutes

Activity 1In your lab groups, work through part A (#1, 2, 5) and B (#1-5) of “For you to do” (pg. 209)Compare your drawings to other groups in part AShow me your drawings when you finishTime: 30 minutes

HomeworkRead part C & D of “For you to do”Read Physics Talk, pg. 214Physics to Go, pg. 216 #1, 4, 5

Day 2: What Goes Up and What Comes Down

Learning Objectives:Measure the speed of an object at the bottom of a rampRecognize that the speed at the bottom of a ramp is dependent on the initial height of release of the object and independent of the angle of incline of the rampComplete a graph of speed vs. height of the rampDefine and calculate kinetic and potential energyState the conversion of energyRelate the conservation of energy to a roller coaster ride

StarterThe steepest angle of descent on a wooden roller coaster is 70°The steepest angle of descent on a steel roller coaster is 90°Which roller coaster will give the biggest thrill between the two? Why?Time: 15 minutes

Video

Activity 1Activity B from last lessonTime: 20 minutes

Activity 2We will investigate how the angle and height of release of a marble on a track affects the speed of the marbleFor you to do, pg. 219 #1 – 5, 8, 9Research how how a curved track would affect the speed an object can obtain

Does height matter?Does the angle matter?

Time: 45 minutesDue: Monday, April 22

HomeworkFor you to read, pg. 223Physics to go, pg. 237 #1, 2, 3, 5, 9

Day 3: More EnergyLearning Objectives:

Measure the kinetic energy of a pop-up toyCalculate the spring potential energy from the conservation of energy and using an equationRecognize the general nature of the conservation of energy with heat, sound, chemical, and other forms of energy

StarterThe concept of a “lift hill” for a roller coaster was developed in 1885. This was the initial hill that began a roller coaster ride. A chain or a cable often pulled up the train to the top of this hill.How does the roller coaster today get up to its highest point?Does it cost more to lift the roller coaster if it is full of people?Time: 15 minutes

Video

Activity 1What is kinetic energy? What is gravitational potential energy? Draw a side view of a roller coaster, and label on the diagram where the kinetic and potential energy would be the highest and lowestTime: 10 minutes

Activity 2Read through “What is energy” and create a spider diagram that shows the differences between the different types of energyTime: 15 minutes

Activity 3Complete the “energy in a golf ball” data sheet with your groupAfter doing the 5 trials, calculate the speed at which the baseball hit the ground

How will you calculate this?KE = PE (1/2mv2 = mgh)

Time: 35 minutes

Closing & HomeworkHow do you calculate the speed of an object hitting the ground if you know its PE?For you to read, pg. 234Reflecting on the Activity and the Challenge, pg. 237Physics to go, pg. 237 #1, 2, 4, 6, 7

Day 4: Your “at rest” Weight (60 min)

Learning Objectives:Distinguish between mass and weightCalculate weight in newtonsMeasure the effect of weight on the stretch of a springGraph the relationship between weight and stretch of a springUse a spring to create a scale and explain how Newton’s Second Law is used in the creation of the scaleCalculate spring forces using Hooke’s Law

StarterA canary and an elephant have enormous differences in weight. The elephant may weigh more than 10,000 times as much as the canaryCan you use the same scale to weigh a canary and an elephant?How does a bathroom scale work?Time: 10 min

Video

Activity 1: Mass and Weight

If you were to drop a baseball and a bowling ball off the top of a building, which would land first?Test your answer by dropping two different materials with different massesExplain why you observed what you did (hint: think about acceleration due to gravity)Now, drop a baseball and a piece of paper. Which hits the ground first? Why?Time: 15 minutes

Activity 1 (cont’d)Modify the statement “all objects fall at the same acceleration” to account for your observation with the paper.What is the difference between mass and weight? What are the units of measure for each?Time: 15 min

Activity 2: The Properties of Springs

Work through Part B of “For you to do” with your lab groupTime: 30 min

Mass Weight Stretch of Spring

Weight /Stretch

Data table for #6

HomeworkFor you to read, pg. 246Physics to go, pg. 251 any 3 calculation problems + #10

Day 5: Weight on a Roller Coaster

Learning Objectives:Recognize that the weight of an object remains the same when the object is at rest or moving at a constant speedExplore the change in apparent weight as an object accelerates up or downAnalyze the forces on a mass at rest, moving with constant velocity, or accelerating by drawing the appropriate force vector diagramsMathematically predict the change in apparent weight as a mass accelerates up or down

StarterAs the roller coaster moves down that first hill, up the second hill, and then over the top, you feel as if your weight is changing. In roller coaster terms, this is called airtime. It is the feeling of floating when your body rises up out of the seat. Does your weight change when you are riding on a roller coaster?If you were sitting on a bathroom scale, would the scale give us different readings at different places on the roller coaster?Time: 15 minutes

Video: Mass vs. Weight

Activity 1Will a spring scale have the same reading with a mass suspended from it when you are moving at a constant speed?Why do you think this? Record your answer.Test your hypothesis by suspending a mass to the spring scale. Move your arm at a constant speed to see what happens to the reading on the scale.Explain what you see in terms of Newton’s First and Second Laws of MotionDraw a force diagram to show the forces that are acting on the massTime: 15 minutes

Activity 2What do you think will happen to the reading on the spring scale when you accelerate the spring scale up and down?Test your hypothesis and record your observations. You may find a diagram useful.Complete the observation table #7 on pg. 258Time: 20 minutes

Activity 3: Video

Activity 3Create a comic strip that depicts the difference between mass and weight and how they change (if they change) on a roller coasterTime: 30 minutes

HomeworkFor you to read, pg. 259Physics Talk, pg. 260Physics to go, pg. 263 #1, 3, 4, 7