CENTRIFUGE

DATA:

Radius of primary axis (R) (measured from center of ride to center of car cluster): ________

Radius of secondary axis (r) (measured from center of car cluster to center of car): ________

Indicate on diagram the directions of rotation (as seen from above)

Period of rotation of the whole platform: _______

Period of rotation of car cluster: ________

Maximum lateral acceleration (a_L): __________ g's (measured on the ride at full speed)

Minimum lateral acceleration (a_L): __________ g's (on ride at full speed)

Measure the angle the whole ride makes to the horizontal: ________

In the problems that follow, ignore the fact that the entire ride is set at an angle to the horizontal. Consider the ride as if it were running in a horizontal manner. Consider a passenger who is seated nearer the outside of the ride rather than closer to the inside.

PROBLEMS (to be answered on back or separate page)

1. Given the radii of the platform and the car cluster, what are the maximum and minimum radii that a passenger will have at any moment?
2. Given the two radii you calculated above and the rotational speed of the platter, what are the maximum and minimum centripetal accelerations due to the motion of the platform?
3. Given the radius of the car cluster and its rotational speed, what is the centripetal acceleration that a rider should measure due to the rotation of the cluster? Does this acceleration depend on where you are relative to the center of the larger platform? [4p²R/T²]
4. Sketch the two accelerations when the passenger is at his/her maximum radius. Sketch the two accelerations when the passenger is at his/her minimum radius. Show the directions clearly.
5. Based on your diagram, what should the maximum and minimum lateral accelerations be during the operation of this ride?
6. Did your measured lateral accelerations agree with your calculations? Why might the two not agree? How close were they in percent difference?

CENTRIFUGE

Math-oriented

Radius of primary axis (R) (measured from center of ride to center of car cluster): ________

Radius of secondary axis (r) (measured from center of car cluster to center of car): ________

Indicate on diagram the directions of rotation (as seen from above)

Period of rotation of the whole platform: _______

Period of rotation of car cluster: ________

In the problems that follow, ignore the fact that the entire ride is set at an angle to the horizontal. Consider the ride as if it were running in a horizontal manner. Consider a passenger who is seated nearer the outside of the ride rather than closer to the inside.

PROBLEMS (to be answered on back or separate page)

1. Given the rotation speed and the radius of the car cluster, write an equation to describe the x-position vs. time for an individual car in the frame of reference of the car cluster. Write a second equation for the y-position vs. time for an individual car.
2. Given the rotation speed and the radius of the car cluster on the total ride platform, write an equation to describe the x-position vs. time for a cluster in the frame of reference of the stationary ground below the ride. Write a second equation for the y-position for a cluster.
3. Combine your two equations for the x-position and your two equations for the y-position to predict the overall position of an individual car relative to the stationary ground.
4. Sketch the graphs that are formed by these equations. (If possible, plot them on a graphing calculator, if you brought one, to check it out.)
5. Model the behavior of an individual rider by transferring your work to a spreadsheet and combining the x- and y-position equations to produce the overall motion of a rider. Does your final result agree with your observations and/or ride experience?

CENTRIFUGE

Math-oriented

DATA:

Radius of primary axis (R) (measured from center of ride to center of car cluster): ________

Radius of secondary axis (r) (measured from center of car cluster to center of car): ________

Indicate on diagram the directions of rotation (as seen from above)

Period of rotation of the whole platform: _______

Period of rotation of car cluster: ________

Maximum lateral acceleration (a_L): __________ g's (measured on the ride at full speed)

Minimum lateral acceleration (a_L): __________ g's (on ride at full speed)

In the problems that follow, ignore the fact that the entire ride is set at an angle to the horizontal. Consider the ride as if it were running in a horizontal manner. Consider a passenger who is seated nearer the outside of the ride rather than closer to the inside.

PROBLEMS (to be answered on back or separate page)

1. Given the rotation speed and the radius of the car cluster, write an equation to describe the velocity vs. time for an individual car in the frame of reference of the car cluster.
2. Given the rotation speed and the radius of the car cluster on the total ride platform, write an equation to describe the velocity vs. time for a cluster in the frame of reference of the stationary ground below the ride.
3. Combine the results of your two equations to predict the overall motion of an individual car relative to the stationary ground.
4. Sketch the graph that is formed by this equation. (If possible, plot it on a graphing calculator, if you brought one, to check it out.)
5. Find the maximum and minimum accelerations (dv/dt) of an individual car as given by your equations.
6. Compare your measured accelerations with the calculated values.