A roller coaster goes through a vertical loop. When are the forces on the riders: the smallest and the greatest?
Well, think about it. If you were at the top of a rollercoaster, what do you think the force on the rider would be? You would experience a small normal force, almost as if you were weightless. At the bottom, it takes a lot more force for a rollercoaster to go up so the normal force is much greater on the riders.
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Ah, the roller coaster! It's like a wild, thrilling circus ride for humans. Alright, let's talk about the forces on those brave riders.
When the roller coaster enters the vertical loop, the riders experience a range of forces, including the exhilarating force of gravity and the push and pull from acceleration. The smallest force occurs at the very top of the loop. It's like the riders are having a teeny-tiny vacation from all the crazy acceleration. They probably have a brief moment to catch their breath and take a selfie with their faces gently sagging. 📸
Now, hold on tight because here comes the greatest force! As the roller coaster reaches the bottom of the loop, the riders experience a ginormous force pushing them down, which could make them feel like their stomach is playing a game of hide-and-seek. It's like a giant, invisible hand saying, "Oh, you thought gravity was fun before? Well, hold my cotton candy!" 🍿
So, in summary, the smallest forces occur at the top of the loop, giving the riders a little break, while the greatest forces happen at the bottom, delivering an intense, stomach-churning moment. It's a true circus of forces up there, my friend! 🎪
When a roller coaster goes through a vertical loop, the forces acting on the riders vary throughout the ride. To determine when the forces on the riders are the smallest and greatest, we need to consider the different sections of the loop.
At the top of the loop (the highest point), the forces on the riders are the smallest. This is because the riders experience just enough downward gravitational force to keep them in their seats, but there is no additional acceleration pushing them into their seats. At this point, the net force acting on the riders is the difference between their weight (mg) pointing downward and the normal force provided by the seat pointing upward.
At the bottom of the loop (the lowest point), the forces on the riders are the greatest. Here, the riders experience an additional acceleration pushing them into their seats, called the "centripetal acceleration." This acceleration is directed towards the center of the loop, and it is responsible for keeping the riders on the circular path. The net force acting on the riders at the bottom of the loop is the sum of their weight (mg) and the additional centripetal force.
To calculate the exact forces at the top and bottom of the loop, we need to know the mass of the riders, the speed of the roller coaster, and the radius of the loop. Additionally, we must consider that the forces can also be affected by factors like friction, air resistance, and the design of the roller coaster.