Physics of Roller Coasters Essay -- Roller Coaster Theme Park Amusemen

Roller coasters are driven almost entirely by inertial, gravitational and centripetal forces. Amusement parks keep building faster and more(prenominal) complex roller coasters, but the fundamental principles at work remain the same. A roller coaster is like rise. It consists of a series of connected cars that move on tracks. But unlike a passenger train, a roller coaster has no engine or power source of its own. For most of the ride, a roller coaster is go only by the forces of inertia and gravity. The only exertion of energy occurs at the very beginning of the ride, when the cars are pulled up the first pitcher, or the lift hill. The purpose of this first climb is to build up potential energy. The concept of potential energy is As the coaster gets higher in the air, on that point is a great distance gravity can pull it down. The potential energy built-up going up the hill can be released as kinetic energy, energy of motion, as presently as the cars start coasting down the hill. At the carrousel of the first lift hill (a), there is maximum potential energy because the train is as high as it gets. As the train starts down the hill, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy -- the train speeds up. At the bottom of the hill (b), there is maximum kinetic energy and little potential energy. The kinetic energy propels the train up the second hill (c), building up the potential-energy level. As the train enters the loop (d), it has a lot of kinetic energy and not much potential energy. The potential-energy level builds as the train speeds to the top of the loop (e), but it is soon converted back to kinetic energy as the train leaves the loop (f). When the coaster is relea... ...ly upside down, gravity is pulling you out of your seat, toward the ground, but the stronger speedup force is button you into your seat, toward the sky. Since the two forces pushing you in opposite directions are nearly equa l, your body feels very light. As in the sharp descent, you are almost weightless for the instruct moment when you are at the top of the loop. As you come out of the loop and level out, you become heavy again. In a loop-the-loop, the intensity of the acceleration force is determined by two factors the speed of the train and the angle of the turn. As the train enters the loop, it has maximum kinetic energy -- that is, it is moving at top speed. At the top of the loop, gravity has slowed the train down somewhat, so it has more potential energy and less kinetic energy -- it is moving at trim down speed.