Understanding Perceived Acceleration and Apparent Weight in Amusement Park Rides, Study notes of Classical Physics

Download Understanding Perceived Acceleration and Apparent Weight in Amusement Park Rides and more Study notes Classical Physics in PDF only on Docsity!

THE VIPER

THE VIPER (Six Flags Over Magic Mountain) 188 feet high 70 mph One of the largestlooping rollercoasters in the world

3.3 Carousels

3.3 Carousels

and Roller Coasters

and Roller Coasters

Amusement park ridesare fun when they makeus accelerate aroundloops, twists, turns, etc.

WHY?

•Which

direction

is

the

force on

the

driver?

•Which

way

is

the

perceived

acceleration?

At the start of a NASCAR race At the start of a NASCAR race

F

Perceived acceleration Perceived acceleration

What about at the end of a race?

What about at the end of a race?

F

Perceived acceleration

Force

But the cables pull you inward!

A

A

stupid human trick

stupid human trick

The human carousel

F

Perceived acceleration Perceived acceleration

Circular motion: Circular motion:

force is toward center of circle

Note:

the

kid

in

the

middle

feels

no

acceleration!

v

a

t

Try this at home – acceleration alwayspoints toward the middle of the circle

Uniform

circular

motion

• constant

speed

So far:

So far:

•Perceived

acceleration

always

opposite

to

force?!?!

•Uniform

circular

motion involves

force

toward

center

of

circle

The experience of weight

The experience of weight

The

force

of

your

weight

causes

a

series

of

support

forces between parts

of

your

body

The Experience of

The Experience of

Acceleration

Acceleration

and

and

Apparent Weight

Apparent Weight

Acceleration and Weight

Acceleration and Weight • Feeling

of

acceleration

• Feeling

is

caused

by

your

support

forces

acting

on

your

body

• It

points

in

the

direction

opposite

the

acceleration

• It

has

a

strength

proportional

to

the

acceleration

• “Apparent

weight” is

felt

due

to

the

combined

effects

of

gravitational

and

perceived

acceleration