Flight Deck

Flight Deck is a looping steel coaster with a floorless coach suspended from the track. This design gives you a thrilling ride as you soar along the track at speeds of up to 22 m/s (50 mph).

Measurements & Observations

	A Flight Deck SPOT is provided next to the Great American Outlet to the left of Showtime Theater. There you will find a sign. Copy the information on the sign into the box below.

1. From The SPOT, measure the angles from horizontal to these points: The highest point (top of lift hill) ____________   The height of the bottom of the first hill (A) ____________   The height of the top of the vertical loop (C) ____________   The height of the bottom as you exit the loop (E) ____________   Estimated radius of a rider's path at the top of the vertical loop _________
2. Measurements of time (in seconds): How long for the train to pass the top of the lift hill ____________   How long for the train to pass the bottom of the first drop ____________   How long for the train to pass the top of the loop ____________   How long for the train to pass the bottom exiting the loop ____________

3. Measurement of the train (You may need to do this on the loading platform.)

• Length of train ______________

4. Use trigonometry to calculate the following:

• The highest point (top of lift hill) ____________
   
• The height of the bottom of the first hill (A) ____________
   
• The height of the top of the vertical loop (C) ____________
   
• The height of the bottom as you exit the loop (E) ___________
   

Get in line to ride Flight Deck. While waiting in line, read ALL of the following questions. Plan the measurements you will need to answer each.

5. Remember the accelerations you will felt as you went through the first loop.

1. Where in the loop was the seat-force the greatest (A, B, C, D or E)? ___________

    

2. From the frame of reference of the ground, what was the direction of the force of the seat pushing on you at each point?

    

3. The coaster takes a banked curve over the lake. From the frame of reference of the curving track, what was the direction of the force of the seat pushing on you? Why that direction?
   

 

6. Quantitative Measurements while riding

• Maximum vertical force/mass at bottom of first drop (A) _____________ (g's or N/kg)
   
• Lowest vertical force/mass at top of vertical loop (C) _____________ (g's or N/kg)
   
• Maximum vertical force/mass on exiting the loop (E) _____________ (g's or N/kg)
   

Calculations

7. Speed of the train at these locations (show work):

• Top of lift hill
   
• Bottom of first drop
   
• Top of vertical loop
   
• Bottom exiting the loop
   

8. Using energy, determine how fast the train should be moving at each of these locations (based on its speed at the top of the lift hill):

• Bottom of first drop
   
• Top of vertical loop
   
• Bottom exiting the loop
   

9. How much centripetal force per unit mass, N/kg, should a rider experience at the top of the vertical loop?

 

 

 

10. If gravity supplies 1-g of this force, what should the net force/mass, N/kg, supplied by the seat be?

 

 

 

11. Compare your measured vertical force reading at the top of the loop with your previous calculation. What is your percent difference? Which of these values do you think is the "better" one? Why?

 

 

 

12. Based on the speed you calculated at the bottom of the first drop and the maximum vertical force/mass reading you obtained on the ride, what is the radius of the ride at this point? 

 

 

13. Why do you think the radius at the bottom entering the loop (A) is larger than the radius at the top of the loop(C)? What would happen in terms of force/mass ratio if the radius at the bottom (A) were equal or even smaller than the top of the loop(C)?

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Updated 1/26/2012