Online Investigation of Roller Coasters

http://www.fearofphysics.com/Roller/roller.html

Use the following website. Do the online activity and complete the following questions. .

1.  Start with track 1.

2.  Level A

3.  Turn “the Physics” on

4.  Animation detail (any level)/ click “Go”

5.  Use track 2 and 3. You can choose from level A-E.

6.  Answer the following:

  1. Where does the rollercoaster get its energy?
  2. What are the two types of energy?
  3. What is potential energy?
  4. Where is the potential energy the lowest? The highest?
  5. What is kinetic energy?
  6. The faster a roller coaster is going, the ______kinetic energy it has. The slower it's going, the ______kinetic energy it has.
  7. Describe the conversion between potential and kinetic energy as the rollercoaster travels from the top of the hill to the bottom.

7.  If you were to design a roller coaster, what would you create? What would it look like? Draw a picture of your rollercoaster. Before you answer this question, check out these sites and then come back and draw your design. Label the potential energy (PE) and kinetic energy (KE).

  1. http://www.mhhe.com/physsci/physical/giambattista/roller/roller_coaster.html
  1. http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/coaster/
  1. http://science.howstuffworks.com/roller-coaster3.htm