What are the applications of Newton's laws of motion at Disney World?
What are the applications of Newton's laws of motion at Disney World? Using physics concepts taught in the classroom, Conner shows students how Disney Imagineers use gravity, friction, inertia and Newton's Laws of Motion to create sensations of weightlessness on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the launching and braking technology on Slinky Dog Dash.
How do the basic laws of physics allow a roller coaster to accelerate?
Gravity applies a constant downward force on the cars. The coaster tracks serve to channel this force — they control the way the coaster cars fall. If the tracks slope down, gravity pulls the front of the car toward the ground, so it accelerates.
What are the three forces of a roller coaster?
Roller coasters are driven almost entirely by inertial, gravitational, and centripetal forces. There are three main components to the typical roller coaster: chain lift, catapult-launch lift, and the brakes. The chain lift is the component that pulls all the carts to the “top” of the roller coaster.
What is the math behind roller coasters?
Basic mathematical subjects such as calculus help determine the height needed to allow the car to get up the next hill, the maximum speed, and the angles of ascent and descent. These calculations also help make sure that the roller coaster is safe. No doubt about it--math keeps you on track.
How do roller coasters obey the laws of physics?
If the tracks tilt up, gravity applies a downward force on the back of the coaster, so it decelerates. Since an object in motion tends to stay in motion (Newton's first law of motion), the coaster car will maintain a forward velocity even when it is moving up the track, opposite the force of gravity.