Middle school SCIENCE

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1 FUNTOWN IN LEARNING Middle school SCIENCE US Route 1 Saco, Maine

3 Table of Contents Introduction 2 Helpful Information 3 Dragon s Descent 4 GRAND PRIX RACERS 6 Casino 7 Flying Trapeze 8 Sea Dragon 9 Tempest in the Tea Cups 10 THINDER FALLS LOG FLUME

4 Welcome to FUNTOWN IN LEARNING Middle School This program was designed to show how you could apply concepts taught in the classroom at your favorite amusement park, Funtown Splashtown USA. On the following pages are some questions designed to bring you a little closer to the world of physics while enjoying yourself. You will be asked about the direction of forces, where energy losses occur, and why rides feel like they do. Try to concentrate on your own senses and get an idea on what is actually happening around you and to you. This is one of the best ways to get a grasp of the concepts of physics. Feel free to approach these problems in groups or individually. Look over the booklet and get familiar with it, as this will prepare you for the problems that ask you to make observations while you are on the rides. Write down any questions or comments you may have and discuss them with others. Do not be discouraged if you cannot finish all of the problems at the park; many of them may require some thought after you leave. You can work through each ride s set of problems in any order. Consult your instructor should you have any questions before your visit to Funtown Splashtown USA. One important note; please be safe while observing and riding the rides. All of the usual park rules still apply; no running, stay seated while a ride is in motion, etc. all common sense rules. The staff at Funtown Splashtown USA looks forward to having you at the park. If you were not able to get all of your questions answered before you leave, write to the park. Thanks and have fun! Edward Hodgdon Marketing Manager Edited by: Contributors: Meredith Weglarz, UNE 09; Princeton in Asia James Vesenka, PhD; University of New England Gordon Cutten; Biddeford High School John Elliott, PhD Pam Rousseau; Mountain Valley High School Scott Saltman; Phillips Exeter Academy Jeffrey Steinert; Edward Little High School David Sturm; University of Maine 2

5 HELPFUL INFORMATION DEFINITIONS: Acceleration: Force: Gravitational Potential Energy: Kinetic Energy: Mass: Momentum: Speed: Velocity: Work: The rate at which velocity changes. This may be produced by changing speed or direction. The acceleration due to gravity, is 9.8m/s/s = 32ft/s/s. A push or pull. The energy of a body due to its position. The energy a body has because it is moving. The amount of matter in a body. The product of mass and velocity. It is a conserved quantity and is particularly useful in collisions and explosions. How fast a body changes distance in time. The speed and direction of a body. The product of the force parallel to the distance it travels. 3

6 Dragon s Descent Dragon s Descent, is 68 meters (220 feet) tall. It carries 12 passengers at one time. This amazing attraction is not just an exciting ride up the tower, but the incredible accelerated drop that is a beyond free fall that provides passengers with a negative gravity experience they had no idea was coming. It is a sudden downward rush that is totally unexpected. Dragon s Descent is a vertical ascent and rapid descent ride where passengers are raised at a lower speed straight upward, paused at the top for several terrifying seconds, and then blasted downward in an instantaneous, negative-gravity plummet toward the ground. The Dragon allows passengers to enjoy several aircushioned bounces up and down the tower. Dragon s Descent s emphasis is on the sudden blast downward from the top. It is best to take a few time measurements while you are waiting in line trying to time anything while you are on the ride is somewhere between difficult and impossible. 1. How long does it take the ride to go up to the top? 2. How long does it take to descend from the top to the point where the cart turns around? 3. While you are on the ride, try to sense what forces are being applied to you at various times. For each of these times, record what force is pushing you, in what direction, and how hard. If there is more than one force, compare their magnitudes. a. At rest, waiting at the top b. The first few moments of the descent c. While you are slowing down approaching the bottom d. At the very bottom, about to be flung back up 4. What is your velocity going up if the first ascent is 53m (170 feet)? (Velocity = distance / time) 5. What is your velocity going down if the first descent is 39m (125 feet)? (Velocity = distance / time) 4

7 Dragon s Descent 6. Draw a picture of the ride. Explain at least three energy transfers that are occurring while you are on the ride. 7. If your mass is 50kg, solve for the kinetic energy while you are going down. (KE = 1/2 x mass x velocity x velocity) 8. Is there any friction acting on you as you are falling? If so, explain. 9. Do you reach terminal velocity as you are falling? If so, explain. 5

8 GRAND PRIX RACERS The Grand Prix Racers allow you to race around the track. You feel the take-off acceleration as if the vehicle would pull out from underneath you; but alas, you have a seatbelt on and a backrest that attaches you to the chassis. This keeps you with the car. While you go along the straightaway, you speed up to a max until you approach a curve. At this point, you begin to slow down so that you will not go off the track. 1. What are Newton s Laws? 2. How do these laws apply to you and the Grand Prix Racer? 3. What is the maximum speed of the Grand Prix Racer? 4. Why do you think there is a maximum speed? (Use your knowledge about Newton s Laws to answer this question). 5. What do you feel as you go around a curve? 6. What is the maximum momentum you have while on the ride? (Mass = 50kg; Momentum = mass x velocity) 7. What are the different types of friction that you experienced on the ride? Explain. 6

Casino 1. Observe the ride in operation. Before the platform tilts up into the air, watch the ride pattern of an individual seat to get an idea of what it looks like.

9 Casino 1. Observe the ride in operation. Before the platform tilts up into the air, watch the ride pattern of an individual seat to get an idea of what it looks like. Try to draw the ride pattern below. 2. What does it feel like when you reach the maximum height? Describe this in terms of the forces applied to you. 3. If there is an (inward) acceleration of 12m/s/s, you have a mass of 70kg, what is your total force? Force = mass x acceleration 4. What type of acceleration is this? Explain. 7

Flying Trapeze 1. Measure the time it takes for 2 complete rotations when the ride is at maximum speed. a. Time for 2 rotations? sec. b. Average time for each rotation? sec. 2. If the distance around is 40m (131 ft), what is the velocity?

10 Flying Trapeze 1. Measure the time it takes for 2 complete rotations when the ride is at maximum speed. a. Time for 2 rotations? sec. b. Average time for each rotation? sec. 2. If the distance around is 40m (131 ft), what is the velocity? Velocity = distance / time 3. On the diagram below, draw all of the energies on the swing when it is at it highest point. 4. What is the kinetic energy if your mass is 60kg? Kinetic Energy = ½ x mass x velocity x velocity 8

11 Sea Dragon 1. Some trick questions: a. Which seats on the ride move the fastest? b. Which seats on the ride move the slowest? 2. The Sea Dragon boat s maximum height is 12m above the opposite end of the boat. The maximum acceleration is 20 m/s/s. a. The total mass of the boat is kg. b. The boat s total force is N. (Force = mass x acceleration) c. The boat s work is J. (Work = force x distance) 3. If there is no energy loss due to friction, where does the boat experience the highest velocity? 4. Explain at least three energy transfers that occur. Draw them on the diagram below 9

12 THUNDER FALLS LOG FLUME 1. Examine how the concepts of energy conservation can be applied to the Thunder Falls Log Flume ride. At each of the following points (see diagram below), describe what form(s) of energy are present and what increased or decreased from the previous point. B. C. D. E. 2. Now, what about A? If energy is conserved, the total energy at A should be the same. Where does the energy come from that raises the boat from point A to point B? 10

13 These questions deal with conservation of energy and the energy losses that occur during a ride on the Excalibur roller coaster. The ride diagrams are below. The top of the first drop is 25.3m from the bottom of the first dip. 1. Find the work to get to Point A. Assume the force on the train is 2000N. A is 25.3m high. Work = force x distance 2. Explain where there is acceleration. Explain where there is deceleration. Explain where there is constant velocity. 3. Where does the train have the most potential energy? (The most stored gravitational energy) 4. Where is there kinetic energy? 11

14 5. Using the information provided, fill in the following table. Use a mass of 65kg. Point on track Distance along track v (m/s) KE (J) A B C D E F G H I J Could magnets be used to stop the train? If so, how? Abbreviations: v-velocity; KE-kinetic energy 12

Laws of Force and Motion

Laws of Force and Motion Does anything happen without a cause? Many people would say yes, because that often seems to be our experience. A cup near the edge of a table suddenly crashes to the floor. An apple falls from a tree