A rollercoaster will be going at a speed of 36 m/s through a loop. To make sure the riders don't experience acceleration greater than 20 m/s2, what should be the radius of the loop?

Question

A rollercoaster will be going at a speed of 36 m/s through a loop.  To make sure the riders don't experience acceleration greater than 20 m/s2, what should be the radius of the loop?

bobpursley · Answer

at the bottom? 20m/s^2 > 36^2/r now the problem statement is poor. If one is sitting still, one experiences a force of gravity g. Is this included within the 20m/s^2? if so, then 20> g+ v^2/r It should have been detailed, however, I would go with the first equation, if marked wrong, argue like the dickens with the lazy prof.