Roller Coaster Race

Two cars race along side by side tracks. One is on a track with no vertical change. The other is on a track with hills and a loop. Both are started at the same time to see which finished first.

Setup:

Place the roller coaster track on lab table.

Place the cars on the track making sure the wheels are aligned in the grooves on the track.

Release both cars at the same time to see which finishes first.

Notes:

Be sure that the cars wheels spin freely and that they are in the grooves on the track.

Courses Used In:

  • PHY 10111

  • PHY 10310

  • PHY 10410

  • PHY 30210

Discussion and Polling Questions:

  • Why did the cart going through the longer path finish faster?

  • What do the position/velocity/acceleration vs. time graphs look like for both carts?

Equipment Needed:

  • Pasco Roller Coaster Track (One Straight Track and One Looped Track)

  • Two Pasco Roller Coaster Carts