Chang:

My objective is to understand how a gravity driven coaster operates based on work and energy

Concepts: Observation

Mathematical skills

Core Concepts

Directions:

1.Calculate the work done on you when you were pulled up the 303-foot diagonal inclined loading area.

2.Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom claims a maximum speed of 63 miles per hour and a maximum vertical hight of 154 feet. Is this claim valid? Explain.

3.On Chang , Riders plummet from the highest hill of 154 feet into a 121.6-foot vertical loop. Explain the energy transfer during this part of the ride.

4.Set up an equation which compares the initial energy at the hilltop to the energy at the loop. How do these calculated energy values compare?

 

Extensions:

Chang has 4155 feet of track. The cost of the ride is 12 million dollars. What is the cost of this ride?

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T2:

 

My objection is to calculate the average speed for the entire ride and calculate the work required and power needed to move you to the rides highest point.

 

Concepts: Observation

Thinking

Concepts

Data

 

Directions:

1. Measure the time it takes to move from the beginning to the highest point.

2. Calculate the average speed m/sfor the entire ride.

3. Calculate the work (in joules) requiredto move you to the rides highest point

4. Calculate th power (in watts) needed to move you to the rides highest point.

 

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Hellevator:

 

My objection is to experience G-forces of free-fall and calculate free-fall distance and maximum velocity of the car.

 

Concepts: Observation

Thinking

Concepts

Data

 

Directions:

1. Measure time of free-fall.

2. Use this measured time to calculate free-fall distance.

3.Calculate maximum velocity of the car.

4. Use vertical accelerometers to measure the G's during free-fall and breaking.

5.Using the horizontal accelerometer and trigometeric functions, calculate the height of the Hellevator. Compare with the given height and find the percentage of error.

6. Calculate your potential energy at the top of the Hellevator.

 

Extensions:

Assuming that the amount of air resistanse is the same for all cars, Explain why all cars do not fall at the same rate.