Roller Coaster Simulations
8. Click New Track, Initial Hill, Add Loop, and Add Loop. Run the simulation
and describe the run.
Go to Funderstanding Roller Coasters off of my website. Give it time to load.
On the right side, select the roller coaster style you would like to use.
1. Run the simulation without any changes and describe the run.
2. Click New Track, Initial Hill, and Add Hill. Run the simulation and
describe the run.
3. If the roller coaster did not complete the run, adjust either or both of
the hills to make the run complete. Describe the changes made.
4. Click New Track, Initial Hill, and Add Loop. Run the simulation and
describe the run.
9. If the roller coaster did not complete the run, make adjustments to the
roller coaster to make the run complete. Describe the changes.
10. Click New Track, Initial Hill, Add Loop, and Add Hill. Run the simulation
and describe the run.
11. If the roller coaster did not complete the run, make adjustments to the
roller coaster to make the run complete. Describe the changes.
Make other adjustments to the simulator and then answer the following:
12. What settings for the heights of the first and second hill cause the
coaster to either not get around the loop or crash through the loop?
5. If the roller coaster did not complete the run, adjust either the hill or
the loop or both structures to make the run complete. Describe the
changes made.
13. Why does the height of the second hill affect the ability of the coaster to
go safely around the loop?
6. Click New Track, Initial Hill, Add Hill, and Add Loop. When it tells you it is
the last track element, click “Do not show this message again” and then
“OK.” Run the simulation and describe the run.
14. If the speed of the coaster is too high when it goes over the crest of a
hill, what happens? Why?
7. If the roller coaster did not complete the run, make adjustments to the
roller coaster to make the run complete. Describe the changes.
15. How does a change in gravity setting affect the motion of the coaster as
it goes up and down hills and around the loop?
16. Can you really change gravity on the Earth?
Go to Amusement Park Physics and build a roller coaster. Continue to build
your roller coaster until you receive two thumbs up. If you do not get them
on your first try, look next to your “thumbs down” for the following: Why
did your design succeed or fail? Find out about each step in your coaster
design in your safety inspection. Click on “your safety inspection” for
additional help.
1. Did your first design get
for both safety and fun rating?
2. Why did your design succeed or fail?
3. Draw your roller coaster design with
for both safety and fun rating.
If you finish before the end of class, you can now visit the other roller
coaster simulators. Have fun!