Roller Coasters

1.  The first step is to look up 3 early roller coasters in the United States.  The

    determine what the material was used to build the roller coasters.  Research

    if the material that was used in the past is used today.  Make a chart.

2   The next task is to select 5 them parks and complete the following data:

     Park name, park location, name of roller coaster, height of coaster,

     speed of coaster and length of ride.

3.  Now your task is to calculate the time of the roller coaster ride.

     Example:  Length=4000 feet, Speed=65 mph use t=d/r

                          find rate in feet/second

                   rate=( 65 miles/1 hour)(5280 feet/1mile)(1 hour/3600 seconds)

                   rate=(95.33 feet/second and distance=4000 feet so using t=d/r

                   time=4000feet/95.33ft./sec) and time=41.96 seconds

4.  Now your task is to caculate the average acceleration for each roller coaster.

                   Example:  Length is 4000 feet and 1 meter=3.281 feet

                   distance in meters=(4000feet/1)(1 meter/3.281 feet)=1219.14 m

                   Use a=(2s)/(tsquared), s=distance in meters and t=time in

                   seconds

                   a=2(1219.14)/(41.96*41.96)=1.38 meters/second squared.

5.   Complete 3 simulated roller coaster rides and determine which is the

      safest and most fun.  Go to the website:

      http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/coaster to perform the

      simulations.  Write a detailed description of what you do at the website.