Motion on a Roller Coaster

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Lesson 21

• Motion on a Roller Coaster

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Question

• What changes occur on a roller coaster?

Write your question on the back of your data sheet
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What leads you to believe that a roller coaster
might be fast?
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Inquiry Group Observations

• Use the spring scale to weigh the cart
• Use the meter stick to measure the height of the
  coaster at each checkpoint
• Use the tape measure to find the length of the
  coaster between each checkpoint
• Record your observations in the data table

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Consider the video, how can we use our data to
describe the roller coaster?
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Potential and Kinetic Energy

• Remember
• Energy is the ability to do work.
• Energy can be stored and transformed.
• Examples batteries, springs, hill
• Stored energy is known as potential energy.
• Kinetic energy is energy of motion.

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Calculating Potential Energy

• PE w x h
• Using your measurements calculate the potential
  energy of the roller coaster at each check point.
• Record your answers in the data table.

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How fast is it?
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Inquiry Group Observations

• Measure the time it takes your cart to pass each
  checkpoint
• Record your observations in the data table.

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Calculating Velocity

• V d / t
• Use your time and distance measurements to
  calculate the velocity of the coaster at each
  checkpoint.
• Record your answers in the data table.

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Now where does all that potential energy go?
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Calculating Kinetic Energy

• KE ½ m v2
• Mass weight / gravity (9.8)
• Using your velocity data, calculate the kinetic
  energy at each check point
• Record your answers in the data table.

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The Law of Conservation of Energy
The total energy of a system remains constant.
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Conservation of Energy

• Total energy PE KE
• Find the total energy for each check point
• Record your answers in the data table.

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Conclusion

• Use your data and observations to answer the
  following questions.
• Where does the energy of the roller coaster come
  from?
• Describe the motion of the roller coaster.
• What energy changes occur on the roller coaster?

Write your conclusion on the back of your data
sheet