Science Concepts Applied to Ride

Speed

. Speed is a very important factor in our ride. If the marble didn't move fast enough and gain enough speed, it wouldn't be able to complete parts of our ride. However, since the marble accelerates as it falls, it gains enough speed to carry it throughout the rest of the roller coaster.

Static Friction

A force which resists to change its state of rest of an object is called static friction. An is a wooden block sitting on a ramp. The block is resisting the downwards slope of the ramp and it is therefore remaining stationary. A force needs to be applied to make the block slide down the ramp. When our roller coaster is at the top of its incline, static friction will need to be applied in order to make it go down the slope.

Acceleration

Acceleration is the acceleration of a falling body in the earth's gravitational field. As the marble falls down the slope, it picks up speed. Therefore, since the speed is increasing, it is able to go fast enough to make it around the loop.

Centripetal Force

Any motion in a curved path represents accelerated motion, and requires a force directed toward the center off the path. In the case of an object moving in a circular path, the net force is a special force called the centripetal force, which means "center seeking" force. Centripetal force applies to our roller coaster, because when the marble goes on the loop, the centripetal force will keep the marble up because of the pull to the center.

Force

Force is a push or pull upon an object. The forces that apply in our ride are gravitational and centripetal forces.

G force

G-force is also important because gravity will always be pulling our ball down, and g-force is the way to measure how much force is being put on it.

Gravitational Acceleration

Gravitational Acceleration is the acceleration of a falling body in the earth's gravitational field. As the marble falls down the slope, it picks up speed. Therefore, since the speed is increasing, it is able to go fast enough to make it around the loop. Force is a push or pull upon an object. The forces that apply in our ride are gravitational and centripetal forces.

Gravity

Gravity is the force of attraction by which terrestrial bodies tend to fall toward the center of the earth. Gravity applies to our ride because when we release the marble from the top of the slope, gravity pulls it down. Since the marble gains speed when it goes down the slope, it is able to go around the loop

Inertia

Inertia relates to our ride because when the marble goes around the turn it will want to go in a straight line off of the track but the track will guide it into a smooth turn.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. An object that has motion has kinetic energy. When the marble starts rolling down the slope, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.

Newton's Laws

Newtons first law relates to our ride because our marble will start off non-moving until we start it, and then it will roll down the hill. Newton's second law relates to our ride because when our marble is rolling down the hill we want it to go very fast so it can make it around our loop, so the heavier the ball is the faster it goes. Newton's Third Law applies because When I release the marble, the gravity takes effect and the marble falls.

Potential Energy

Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position. For example, if you draw a bow, it is able to store energy as the result of its position. When it is in its usual position and the bow is not drawn, there is no energy stored in the bow. When our roller coaster starts moving, it starts gaining potential energy energy. However, when our roller coaster goes down the slope, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.

Rolling friction

The force resisting the motion when a body rolls on a surface is called the rolling friction. Rolling friction applies to objects on wheels, like cars, or other round objects that roll, such as a ball. It is caused by the deformation of the wheel or tire or the deformation of the ground. The size of the rolling friction greatly depends on the material of the object and the type of ground. For example, rubber will give a bigger rolling friction than steel. Also, sand on the ground will give more rolling friction than concrete. When the marble for our roller coaster goes on the system that will take it back up, rolling friction will be applied as the marble turns on the track.

Velocity

Velocity relates to our roller coaster because our marble will constantly be moving and constantly be moving in a direction, therefore velocity is a key part of our park ride.

Sliding friction

When the surface of an object moves along the surface of another object the motion is called a "slide". A resistive force that opposes a slide is called sliding friction. For example, when you push a large wooden crate across a floor you create sliding friction.

Friction

an opposing force(a push). The track that the marble rolls on does not have that much friction, otherwise the marble would not move.

Momentum

as the marble rolls down the slope, its mass stays the same but its velocity is getting faster.