ORBIT - Quantitative

DATA:

Radius of the ride: ______________ meters

Time for one revolution (T) when ride is at full speed: ____________sec

Acceleration experienced at side of path when ride is vertical: _____________g's

Acceleration experienced at top of path when ride is vertical: _____________ g's

Acceleration experienced at bottom of path when ride is vertical: _____________ g's

CALCULATIONS: Show your work, including equations.

1. Calculate the circumference of the ride: _______________m

    

2. Calculate the velocity along the circumference: _____________m/sec

    

3. Calculate the centripetal acceleration (v²/R): _____________m/sec²

    

    

4. Calculate the net acceleration at the top and bottom (calculating in gravity, + and -)
   1. Acceleration at top: ___________ m/sec² ___________ g's

      Acceleration at bottom: ___________ m/sec² ___________ g's

5. Compare your calculated values with the measured values on the ride.

    

6. What is the size of the difference in the measured values at the top and bottom? Why did you get this particular difference?

    

    

7. Sketch the forces acting on a person at the top of the ride and those acting on them at the bottom. These should relate directly to your answers in number 4 above.