ROLLERCOASTER 2011The project that ruled the world

What are we doing

We will use our knowledge of basic mechanics to build a rollercoaster that will be capable of wondrous things.

Those things will include, but are not limited to: being able to teach physics noobs the wonder

and joy of science write a document praising rollercoasters take some serious data and present it all

awesomely make a genuinely cool rollercoaster capable of

making a loop under the effect of gravity

First-the noobs (worth 3 hw grades)

Write 3 mini-labs at regular physics level for use by said noobs.

Make them photocopy worthy, and include a brief summary of the concept you are covering.

Include a data table, a few analysis questions, and a procedure that a regular physics student would enjoy following

Next, the document

Three choices: history of rollercoasters (make it

interesting, I have read most of it a thousand times),

an investment document asking for capital to build your rollercoaster (do some research about the price. they are SUPER expensive), or

a brochure advertising your rollercoaster.

The Document

Must have references (minimum three)

Must be colorful (with words if you are doing a history, pictures for the brochure, and convincing numbers for the investment document. Why should I give you my money?)

Be serious, don’t plagiarize. This is worth a quiz grade

Finally, the lab

You need to find some measurables about your rollercoaster: PE at top, KE at bottom, energy dissipated by friction, coefficient of friction are a few that you COULD include.

make sure you go back to basics: include all sections in lab format guide

repeat the experiment enough times to get std dev for your measurements

More lab

This lab is worthe two lab grades. Accordingly, the data should be double the data of one lab. Use std dev:

Propagation of Error

http://www.rit.edu/cos/uphysics/uncertainties/Uncertaintiespart2.html