Author: Rin Takahashi
Editors: Jonathan Chen, Ethan Tai
Artist: Sherry (ShaoYu) Zhang
With each turn serving as a reminder of regret, roller coasters may seem like chaotic machines designed only for the thrill. However, there are exact scientific principles behind their exhilarating loops. The attraction is grounded in fundamental physics, including inertia, forces, and energy conservation. By understanding these concepts, engineers can create experiences that are both thrilling and safe. In fact, the very physics that drives the roller coaster’s heart-pounding twists and loops are the same principles that keep passengers securely in place, even as they feel the force of gravity pulling them down.
Firstly, the conservation of energy governs the motion and speed of the ride. The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; in other words, the closed system will always have the same energy unless external forces are added. This is proven through the formula: Mechanical Energy (Emech)=Kinetic Energy (K)+Potential Energy (U)+Heat (Q) where K=1/2mv^2 and U=mgh. Kinetic Energy is a form of energy that an object has because it is moving and Potential Energy is the stored energy. At the ride’s highest point, typically before the loop, the train possesses maximum potential energy due to its height. The potential energy at the roller coaster's starting point represents the system's total energy since the speed is zero. This knowledge allows us to neglect the kinetic energy in the equation. As the roller coaster descends, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and heat as the roller coaster increases its speed. Upon entering the loop, the train must retain sufficient kinetic energy to overcome gravity and complete the loop without stalling.
Have you ever wondered how passengers remain securely in place during a roller coaster loop, seemingly defying gravity? The answer lies in the forces at play that are crucial for keeping passengers safe during a roller coaster ride's exhilarating twists and turns. Within a loop, centripetal force is the net force that keeps an object moving along a circular path. It results from the combination of two forces: gravitational force (the passenger's weight acting downward) and the normal force exerted by the seat. The direction of the normal force depends on the object's position in the loop—acting upward at the bottom and downward at the top. At the top of the loop, these forces will combine, creating the necessary centripetal force that keeps the rider on the circular track. While riding the roller coaster, you don’t experience the sensation of being upside down, as engineers and physicists have tailored the forces to keep you firmly in place. Specifically, at the loop's peak, the normal force and gravity generate the centripetal force together. At times, the normal force from the seat can exceed your weight, making you feel heavier or pressed against the seat. Although you may sense a strong force pushing you down into the seat, you won’t feel like you are being thrown out of your seat because the forces are meticulously balanced to ensure you remain securely on track.
The formula used to calculate this force is F=mv^2/r where m is mass in kilograms, v is velocity in meters per second, and r is the radius in meters. Thus, for an object to complete a loop, the object must be fast enough, or the loop must have a small enough radius. However, most rides have big loops where the radius is large, so the cart must be traveling extremely fast as the ride enters the loop.
Lastly, we must consider one of the most essential concepts, Newton’s First Law: inertia. Newton’s First Law states that an object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion at a constant speed and in a straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force, also known as inertia. For roller coaster riders, this principle enables us to experience the thrill. As the forces of the ride momentarily resist our bodies, sensations of weightlessness and excitement are created. We often find ourselves pinned against the sea, or feeling like we are floating due to a rapid change in direction or altitude of the car, but our bodies' inertia wants to keep us going in a straight line.
Roller coasters exemplify how we often overlook the significance of physics in our daily lives. At first glance, it may seem that the structure of the loop or track influences the roller coaster, but through the lens of physics, we realize it also involves centripetal force and energy conservation. Many factors contribute to the creation of something that appears so simplistic. So, the next time you ride a roller coaster, let the loop’s thrilling twists and turns remind you of the captivating physics at play.
Citations:
Boechler, Ethan. “Law of Conservation of Energy.” Energy Education, University of Calgary,
2021, energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Law_of_conservation_of_energy. Accessed 20
Jan. 2025.
taylor. “Inertia and Roller Coasters.” Science News,
taylorsciencegeeks.weebly.com/blog/inertia-and-roller-coasters. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
wayne, tony. “Roller Coaster Design.” Www.mrwaynesclass.com,
www.mrwaynesclass.com/apResources/coaster/web/index04.html. Accessed 20 Jan.
2025.
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