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Laws, Definitions and Equations Used in Designing Rollercoasters
Newton's First Law of Motion-a body remains at rest or in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force
Gravity-The natural force of attraction exerted by a celestial body, such as Earth, upon objects at or near its surface, tending to draw them toward the center of the body. On Earth: 9.8 m/s.
Inertia-The tendency of a body to resist acceleration; the tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest or of a body in straight line motion to stay in motion in a straight line unless acted on by an outside force
Acceleration-The rate of change of velocity in conparison to time. A= V/T
Velocity-A vector quantity whose magnitude is a body's speed and whose direction is the body's direction of motion. V= D/T
Potential Energy-The energy of a particle or system of particles derived from position, or condition, rather than motion. A raised weight, coiled spring, or charged battery has potential energy. Ep=MxHxG
Kinetic Energy-The energy possessed by a body because of its motion, equal to one half the mass of the body times the square of its speed. Ek= (1/2)mxvxv
Cataplut launch- in relation to roller coasters, insted of pulling the cars up to gain potential energy, they start the coaster by building up a large amount of kinetic energy
Acceleration Force- the push you feel in the opposite direction of the actual force that is accelerating you. Measured in g-uints, or units of gravity.
