hi, um my class recently made small scale rollercoasters and the second part of the lab was the calculate the following:
1. Potential, kinetic and total mechanical energy at the top, the bottom and for 2 pts along the way.
2. a)The speed in m/s of the marble right before it goes into the loop, at the top of the loop, for some random point in the ride, and at the bottom of the ride. b)These are theoretical determinations of the velocities. Determine the real values of these velocities and the percent differences between them.
3. Determine the amount of force that is required to stop the riders at the bottom. If the marble was allowed to go on uninterrupted until it stopped, how far would it travel? Determine the coefficient of kinetic energy.
4. Determine the centripetal acceleration and the centripetal force when the marble is upside down in the loop.
Can someone tell me which formulas i am to use to do these problems? For #1 i think i understand how to do the top and bottom but i dont know how to find the velocity at a random pt on the coaster. Thanks
need help with rollercoaster problems
The actual values have to be determined experimentally,I dont think we can say anything about those
The minimum velocity required at the bottom for completing the loop should be greater then sqrt(5gr) whereas it should be greater then sqrt(gr) at the top for completing the loop
For calculating the distance travelled when marble is allowed to go off at the bottom we ahve to used the concept that amount of KE marble is having will be dissipated as friction
At bottom whole energy will be KE = mv^2/2 which will be dissipated against friection at the rate
Coeffcient of friections*mg*d =KE
from this you can calculate the distance which it will travel
I hope this helps
need help with rollercoaster problems
how do i do number 3 and part 2b of this lab?
need help with rollercoaster problems
Hello
For the first part you may refer to the conservation of energy law
at the top of circle we will have PE = mg(2r) which will be converted to KE at the bottom
In between it will be partially KE partially PE which have to be calculated using the mgh and concept of centripetal velocity
Remember the force acting on the object while in motion is mv^2/r