Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Roller Coasters in Loops 
Name: Jane A.
Status: student
Age: 16
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001-2002
Question:
How do the roller coasters hold in people in the loops, using mathematics equations and explanations?

Replies:
The centripetal force supplies the necessary forces to hold a person in. The harness restraints act as a backup.

A highly simplified equation is:

F(net) = ma = F(support) + F(gravitational),

but this is different for each position of the roller coaster. Since the coaster is an extended object and not a point, the math exceeds that which is taught in high schools.

---Nathan A. Unterman


Click here to return to the Physics Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory