Success
Ours worked
Scientific Method
A roller coaster is a dynamic, three dimensional fixed course, gravity operated
recreational vehicle. We build a track. We have included in our track design
some curves and loops to increase the level of enjoyment. (Call it the fun
factor.) We figure out how to make some cars that will roll along the track. Not
too tough, but critical for safety. We put a short string of cars together, fill
them with folks and send them on their way.At the beginning of coaster rides is
a big long "hill" to climb. The cars are cranked up to the top, and through all
the time they are being lifted, energy is being added. This energy collects in
the cars (and riders) as they are lifted to the highest point of the track: the
start. Special note here: all the energy that is used in the ride has been put
in by lifting the cars up the starting grade. All of it. Gravity has been acting
on the cars all the time. By lifting the cars, the energy of gravity (that
constant pull) has been "overridden" by our lifting machinery, and now we are
about to tap that energy. With a nudge, the cars go forward and start down the
initial descent.
Gravity pulls the cars down,
and we're flying! We are now converting the stored (potential) energy we
gathered climbing the hill at the start into the energy of motion (kinetic
energy). In the turns and loops, the cars careen around and we are pressed into
the seats. We change the course of the track and reorient the cars along the way
to make it more fun and redirect energy. As we make those twists and loops, we
will be tapping more of that energy that we stored in the cars at the start, and
we'll be using it to keep the cars on the track in the loops and twists. We
finally come to a stop. End of the ride. Exit safely, please. Come back again
soon.
Source: http://wiki.answers.com/
recreational vehicle. We build a track. We have included in our track design
some curves and loops to increase the level of enjoyment. (Call it the fun
factor.) We figure out how to make some cars that will roll along the track. Not
too tough, but critical for safety. We put a short string of cars together, fill
them with folks and send them on their way.At the beginning of coaster rides is
a big long "hill" to climb. The cars are cranked up to the top, and through all
the time they are being lifted, energy is being added. This energy collects in
the cars (and riders) as they are lifted to the highest point of the track: the
start. Special note here: all the energy that is used in the ride has been put
in by lifting the cars up the starting grade. All of it. Gravity has been acting
on the cars all the time. By lifting the cars, the energy of gravity (that
constant pull) has been "overridden" by our lifting machinery, and now we are
about to tap that energy. With a nudge, the cars go forward and start down the
initial descent.
Gravity pulls the cars down,
and we're flying! We are now converting the stored (potential) energy we
gathered climbing the hill at the start into the energy of motion (kinetic
energy). In the turns and loops, the cars careen around and we are pressed into
the seats. We change the course of the track and reorient the cars along the way
to make it more fun and redirect energy. As we make those twists and loops, we
will be tapping more of that energy that we stored in the cars at the start, and
we'll be using it to keep the cars on the track in the loops and twists. We
finally come to a stop. End of the ride. Exit safely, please. Come back again
soon.
Source: http://wiki.answers.com/