Investigation into theme park rides from a scientific viewpoint Essay Example

Investigation into theme park rides from a scientific viewpoint Essay Example Investigation into theme park rides from a scientific viewpoint Essay Investigation into theme park rides from a scientific viewpoint Essay In this essay investigation will be made into the forces that are acting on the human body when experiencing a theme park ride. Theme park rides have developed considerably within the last twenty years, it is not only the physics of the ride that needs to be considered during the design process but safety aspects also need to be considered, tests need to be taken to find what conditions such as G-forces, speeds and pressure can be withstood by the body. This investigation will be studying the velocity and breaking force of the ride known as The Detonator. Gravitational force, potential energy and kinetic energy all play a role in the experience of the ride and in the right environment can create a situation where the body is in freefall. The Detonator is a ride where passengers are strapped into a car at the bottom of a 30.78m tower, motors apply a force to raise the car to the top of the free-fall tower (this force differs depending on the mass of the riders) when the car arrives at the top of the tower it is suspended; this is the point at which the potential energy is the greatest, the car is then released and the potential energy is transferred into kinetic energy. The Detonator The following points will be investigated: o Velocity o Breaking Force o The relationship free-fall has with other aspects of physics This report will not however be investigating into rollercoaster loops or centripetal force as these do not apply to The Detonator and are too advanced for this piece of writing. Measurements Initial velocity- u Final velocity- v Displacement- s Acceleration- a Mass- m Gravitational force- g Time- t For this report average measurements are used as follows: (All measurements shown to 2 d.p.) Masses- o Child/young adult- 35.00kg o Adult- 65.00kg o Large adult- 90.00kg In an 8:3:1 ratio Mass of car- 10000kg Height of free-fall tower-30.78m Braking distance- 9.32m Calculations All working will be shown in full as an aid to appreciating the full physics of the ride. Due to the ride being in a free-fall situation the acceleration downwards is therefore equal to the gravitational force-9.81ms-2 Initial velocity- 0.00ms-1 Final velocity- v2=u2+2as v2=02+2 X 9.81 X 30.77 v=?603.7074 =24.57045787 24.57ms-1 Breaking Force- The detonator car holds 12 riders at one time. When studying the ride it was noticeable that the average rider ratio is 8 Children:3 Adults:1 Large Adult. I will calculate the braking force for a car full of large adults, a car full of adults and a car full of children. I will then work out what the average braking force would be using the average user ratio. The formula F=ma will be used to find the braking distance, however we do not yet know the acceleration so this will need 2 be found Firstly the acceleration needs to be found, using the following formula: Acceleration- v2=u2+2as a=v2- u2 2s a= 24.570457872 -02 29.23 a= 603.7074 18.46 =32.7035428 a= 32.70 ms-2 Breaking force-(12 children) F=ma F=(1235.00+10000) X 32.7035428 F=10420 X 32.7035428 340770.916 F=340770.92N Breaking force-(12 adults) F=ma F=(1265+10000) X 32.7035428 F=10780 X 32.7035428 =352544.1914 F=352544.19N Breaking force-(12 Large adults) F=ma F=(1290+10000) X 32.7035428 F=11080 X 32.7035428 =362355.2542 F=362355.25N Breaking force-(8 Children:3 Adults:1 Large Adult- Average) F=ma F=(835+365+190+10000) X 32.7035428 F=(280+195+90+10000) X 32.7035428 F=10565 X 32.7035428 =34551.9297 F=34551.93N These calculations are based on the forces used being the only forces acting therefore they may not be as accurate as is possible. To create the most accurate results other forces such as friction will need to be considered. Evaluation The physics used in the theory for The detonator closely relates to that of a falling lift in a tall building -the initial velocity being negative, zero or low and the final velocity being very high and the coming to an abrupt halt, breaking force being the mass of the lift plus the mass of the passengers multiplied by the acceleration. Some lifts travel at the same constant acceleration as gravity so as to be more efficient. When riding the detonator accelerations of up to 5.5g can be experienced (G-force) this means that the person riding the detonator has a force acting on them 5.5 times the size of gravitational force. In the future rides such as this may be made taller or faster, there are however many limitations to designers; if the ride is made taller: o It will be less stable. o More power will be need to lift the car to the top of the tower. o A larger breaking distance will be needed. o More safety equipment will be needed All in all, the detonator has many forces acting upon it and its rider making it an exciting and enjoyable ride.