Roller Coaster Physics

Use a virtual simulation to explore the physics of roller coasters. Access the Energy Skate Park simulation at: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/energy-skate-park/latest/energy-skate-park_en.html.

Click Playground. Here you will have a chance to use the building segments (red blocks at the bottom of the simulation) to construct a roller coaster-like skate park. First, set the following parameters:

• Mass stays at default value (60 kg)
• Friction = None
• Uncheck Stick to Track
• Click the plus sign next to Energy (to show energy bar graph)
• Check Grid(lower left), Pie Chartand Speed(upper right)

Use the red building segments (bottom of simulation) to construct a roller coaster. Your coaster must meet the following three requirements:

1. The roller coaster must start at 8 meters height and end at 0 meters. (Be sure the Grid is on!)
2. In addition to the first hill (that starts at 8 meters) the coaster MUST have a loop AND a second hill.
3. The skater MUST stay on the track at all times.

Once you have constructed a roller coaster that the skater stays in contact with the whole time (with the Sticks to Track box unchecked), complete the following:

• Pause the simulation with the skater at the top of EITHER the loop OR the top of the second hill.
• Click and drag the measuring tapetool (lower right) to measure the height of this hill (or loop).
• Take a screenshot of your coaster.The screenshot should show your coaster design (be sure it meets all three requirements), skater at the top of the hill (or loop), the height of the hill (or loop), and the speed at this location.

Be sure your screenshot shows the following:

• An initial hill that begins at 8 m
• A loop and second hill (in either order)
• 60-kg skater at TOP of either the loop or the second hill
• Types of energy (bar graph and pie chart)
• Speed of skater (at TOP of either the loop or the second hill)
• Measuring tape that shows the height of the skater (at TOP of either the loop or the second hill)
• The box next to Stick to Track is NOT checked

You will upload the screenshot of your roller coaster on the Lab 5 Assessment separately from the lab activity. Note that you will use information from this screenshot to complete the calculations in Question 1.

Figure 1 is a screenshot of a sample roller coaster. (Note that this example only contains a second hill Your roller coaster MUST also include a loop. Also, the person's mass in this example is 75 kg. The mass of the person on your coaster should be 60 kg.)

7216 t I '5? G) ...leetO2xythos.content.blackboardcdn.com Do not change anything about your roller coaster except for this: set Friction to Lots. Send your skater on a ride. 2. Is your skater able to make it through the entire track? If the answer is 'no', respond to question (a). If the answer is 'yes', respond to question (b). a. If not, at what point did she stop or roll backward? From a physics perspective, explain why she not able to make it through. b. If she was able to make it through, were there any differences between the ride with lots of friction verses the initial friction-free ride? Describe these differences. Set Friction at the maximum point that just barely allows the skater to make it from one end of the coaster to the other end. 3. Study the bar graph and the pie chart. What type of energy is now present that was not present in your initial friction- free run? 4. Use the speedometer to record the skater's velocity at the end of the ride: Velocity at end = m/s 5. Use the velocity question 4 to determine the skater's kinetic energy at the end of the ride when friction is considered. Show all work. Kinetic Energy at end = J 6. Determine the amount of dissipated energy, sometimes referred to as lost or wasted energy, by subtracting the kinetic energy at the end of the run WITH friction (question 5) from the kinetic energy at the end of the friction-FREE run (from the table in question 1). Show all work. Dissipated energy = KE ('fctionj'ee) KE (withfriction) '-" PHSC lll Introduction to Physical Science Roller Coaster Physics Use a Virtual simulation to explore the physics of roller coasters. Access the Energy Skate Park simulation at: https:iiphct.colorado.cduisimsihtml.-"'cncrgy-skatc- park-5'lateslienergy-skate-park_en.html. Click Piayground. Here you will have a chance to use the building segments (red blocks at the bottom of the simulation) to construct a roller coaster-like skate park. First, set the following parameters: ' Mass stays at default value (60 kg) ' Friction = None " Uncheck Stick to Track ' Click the plus sign next to Energy (to show energy bar graph) ' Check Grid (lower left). Pie Chart and Speed (upper right) Use the red building segments (bottom of simulation) to construct a roller coaster. Your coaster must meet the following three requirements: 1. The roller coaster must start at 8 meters height and end at 0 meters. (Be sure the Grid is on!) 2. In addition to the rst hill (that starts at 8 meters) the coaster MUST have a loop AND a second hill. 3. The skater MUST stay on the track at all times. Once you have constructed a roller coaster that the skater stays in contact with the whole time (with the Sticks to Track box unchecked), complete the following: * Pause the simulation with the skater at the top of EITHER the loop OR the top ofthe second hill. ' Click and drag the measuring tape tool (lower right) to measure the height ofthis hill (or loop). ' Take a screenshot of your coaster. The screenshot should show your coaster design (be sure it meets all three requirements), skater at the top of the hill (or loop), the height of the hill (or loop), and the speed at this location. Be sure your screenshot shows the following: 0 An initial hill that begins at 8 m ' A loop and second hill (in either order) ' (SO-kg skater at TOP of either the loop or the second hill ' Types of energy (bar graph and pie chart) ' Speed of skater (at TOP of either the loop or the second hill) ' Measuring tape that shows the height of the skater (at TOP of either the loop or the second hill) ' The box next to Stick to Track is NOT checked You Will upload the screenshot of your roller coaster on the Lab 5 Assessment separately from the lab activity. Note that you will use information from this screenshot to complete the calculations in Question 1. Figure l is a screenshot of a sample roller coaster. (Note that this example only contains a second hill Your roller coaster MUST also include a loop. Also, the person's mass in this example is 75 kg. The mass of the person on your coaster should be 60 kg.) Figure 1: Screenshot of sample roller coaster. Notice there is no loop. Your coaster must include a loop! Questions: 1. Use the data recorded in your screenshot (speed of skater and height of either the loop or the second hill) to calculate the amounts of each type of energy and predicted velocity of the skater at the end of the coaster. (Remember that friction is zero.) Hint: What happens to the total energy along the roller coaster track? M'No credit will be given if work is not shown, regardless of whether or not the data table is complete and correct.\" Show all work here: . Velocity Potential Kinelie Energy Total Energy Roller Coaster Element I-IelghI (In) (mix) Energy [J] {J} in Start 8 0 Top of Element (loop OR second hill] End {1 \fVelocity Potential Kinetic Energy Total Energy (Ito's) Energy [J] [J] {J} Sta rt K 0 Roller Coaster Element Height (Hi) Top of Element (loop 0R serund hill] End {1 Example Calculations: Let's use the information from the sample roller coaster (Figure 1) to nd the amounts of each type of energy at the top of the second hi1]. Height = 5.1 m (measured with measuring tape tool); Velocity (from speedometer) = 7.7 m/s PE = m*g*h= 75kg * lOm/s/s *5.1m = 3,825.] KE='/2"'m*v2 = 1/2 * 75kg * (7.7'rru's)2 = 2,223J Total Energy : PE + KE : 3,825 J + 1,998 J : 6,048 J = ~6,000 J In this example (yours will be different), the total energy along every point in the skater's ride is about 6,000 I. (Why? Being able to answer this question is one of this week's fundamental concepts.) Do not change anything about your roller coaster except for this: set Friction to Lots. Send your skater on a ride. 2. Is your skater able to make it through the entire track? If the answer is 'no', respond to question (a). If the answer is 'yes', respond to question (b). a. If not, at what point did she stop or roll backward? From a physics perspective, explain why she not able to make it through. b. If she was able to make it through, were there any differences between the ride with lots of friction verses Wscbe these - Energy Energy Pie Chart Kinetic Speed Speed Potential Stick to Track Thermal Friction Total 7.7 m/s None Lots PRET Gravity 9.8 m/s2 .0 26. D Earth 4 Mass 75 kg 5 Total Kinetic Thermal 2 Potential 00:00.00 0 m Grid No. Restart Skater Reference Height . . . Energy Skate Park PRET : Intro Measure Graphs Playgrou