Skyscreamer Qualitative Questions

Name: Partner: Teacher: SkyScreamer Sky Screamer is a very tall ride, and as it a result it is difficult to measure the angle of the swing if you are too close to it. When the ride is moving at maximum speed, measure the angle of the swing relative to the vertical. This can be a bit tricky – you need to measure the swing whose support arm is perpendicular to you at the moment of your measurement. This occurs on either the left or right side, and is shown by the horizontal line in the picture. You need to hold your angle meter to measure the angle that the riders on the arm make relative to the vertical (those riders are circled in the picture). Remember – you want to know the angle relative to the vertical! There are two vertical lines drawn in the picture for reference. You may try going taking a photograph of the ride from the Screamin’ Eagle or the Colossus – these vantage points would enable better measuring of the angle. Fill out the following table. Some items will be recorded while on the ride. All FF readings are on the head-to-toe axis Time to rise FF during rise Time for 3 Period at Angle of swing FF at full FF during revolutions at full speed relative to vertical speed descent full speed at full speed Qualitative Questions: 1. Put a check by each thing that happens to you during this ride: Move up _______ Move down ______ Move backward ______ Move forward ______ Move upside down ______ Move in a circle ______ Swing out ______ Swing in ______ 2. Draw a force diagram for a rider at rest, waiting for the ride to begin. 3. Draw a force diagram for a rider on a swing at top speed. Physics Day – Six Flags St. Louis SkyScreamerHFP v2.18 - 1 SkyScreamer 4. What happens to the angle and sensation of weight as the ride speeds up? Why? 5. Explain what keeps the swings moving in a circular path. 6. Explain why the swings tend to move “out” as the ride spins faster. 7. Some people who have not been privileged to have such a great education would say the effect noted in 6) is evidence of a “centrifugal force.” What would you explain to them with love and pity in your eyes? (hint – take some time here) 8. If the bottoms of the seats became vertical, would the ride be moving faster or slower? Explain. Include a force diagram for this speed. 9. Finish this statement: When the seats of this ride leaned outward the most, the ride was moving (faster or slower) ________ and the time it took the person to go around once was (longer or shorter) ________ . SkyScreamer - 2 Physics Day – Six Flags St. Louis Name: Partner: Teacher: SkyScreamer Quantitative Questions (Show all your work. Get into SI.): 1. The Sky Screamer lifts riders 200 feet above the ground and swings them in a 98 foot diameter circle. What is the average speed of a rider as they are lifted to the top of the ride? 2. Using the data you collected with your acceleration meter when you were on the ride, what is the average vertical acceleration of a rider as they are lifted to the top of the ride? As the ride is operating and spinning riders in a circle about an axis of rotation, the swing’s chairs and chains provide the force in order to keep riders moving in circular motion. The Six Flags website says the riders are swinging in a circle with a diameter of 98 feet when the Sky Screamer is operating at top speed. 3. What is the tangential speed of a rider at top speed? 4. Using your previous answer, what is the centripetal (radial) acceleration of the rider at top speed? 5. Draw a force diagram for yourself riding on a swing at top speed. 6. Use your head-to-toe force factor reading to calculate the normal force on you when the ride is spinning at top speed. Physics Day – Six Flags St. Louis SkyScreamerHFP v2.18 - 3 SkyScreamer 7. Use your answer to #6 and a little trigonometry to find your centripetal (radial) acceleration at top speed. How does this answer compare to your answer to #4? 8. Which result do you think is more correct? Explain. 9. Bonus (since you need to teach yourself projectile motion): If a rider accidentally releases an object when the ride is at maximum height and top speed, how far away (horizontally) would that object land, assuming negligible air resistance? If viewed from above, what would the path of that object look like? 10. (not bonus) If viewed from someone farther out the same radius as the person who foolishly dropped the object, what would the path of the possibly deadly projectile be? Why? (Don’t ever drop anything off any rides.) SkyScreamer - 4 Physics Day – Six Flags St. Louis .

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