CoasterEnergy

From The Physics Classroom’s Physics Interactive http://www.physicsclassroom.com Roller Coasters and Energy Purpose: To investigate energy relationships for a roller coaster car. Getting Ready: Navigate to the Roller Coaster Model in the Physics Interactives section of The Physics Classroom website: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Work-and-Energy/Roller-Coaster-Model Path: physicsclassroom.com => Physics Interactives => Work and Energy => Roller Coaster Model Once the Interactive opens, get acquainted with how it functions. Know how to Start , Pause , Step , and Reset the simulation. Observe the three different tabs at the top of the simulation for toggling between Ramp , Loop , and Bumps . Observe that each track design can be further modified by dragging a grey circle to a different position. Experiment with the three controls for showing the Velocity vector and Force vectors and toggling Track Drag on and off. Once acquainted with the program, select the Ramp button to reset the simulation to default settings and then perform the following studies: Section 1: Basic Energy Relationships 1. Click/tap the Start button and observe the motion. View the bar charts and the velocity value as the coaster car moves. Complete the following paragraph by entering total mechanical energy ( ME ), kinetic energy ( KE ), and potential energy ( PE ). The labeled locations refer to the graphic at the right. As the coaster car rolls down the track from A to E, the PE values decrease and the KE value increase and the ME values remain constant. The PE is greatest at point A and smallest at point E. However, the KE is smallest at point A and largest at point E. Section 2: Hill Design 2. Click/tap on the Bumps tab at the top of the Interactive. Then drag the grey circles to modify the track so that it looks like the track design at the right. Pay attention to the background grid to help with the design. Note that Dot G is at the same height as Dot E; make sure that the same is true of your final design. 3. Run the simulation. Does the coaster car travel as high as point H? NO Give an explanation for why it does or doesn't reach point H. It doesn’t reach point H because it is slightly higher than point A. A B C D E A B C D F E H G