What is roller coaster radius and what does it have to do with the track banking?
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I need to use the concepts of physics to explain these two things and how they are related.
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Arlz19 said:
the track has to be banked an angle to the ground in order for the roller coaster to turn. when turnin (either in some circular motion or around a corner) the resultant force on the coaster is the horizontal component of the reaction force of coaster on rails. resultant is also centripetal force. F=ma, F=mv*2 all divided by r, r = radius of circular path coaster makes.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:53 pm -
Ruston A said:
Think of how the radius would affect the centripetal force acting on the roller-coaster car. A smaller radius would mean more centripetal force and therefore more of a bank (more sideways) can be applied to the track. This is how/why the car doesn’t fall off the track when going around a loop. Next time you cary a sack of graceries, swing them around in a circle like a roller coaster loop. Then shorten the radius of your arm (elbow held at your side) see how much more force is acting on the bag. The same thing happens on a roller coaster.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
