Reading Slideshow and Assignment 5/15
- Due No due date
- Points 2
- Questions 2
- Time Limit None
- Allowed Attempts 2
Instructions
Click on the link below to view the Reading Slideshow and the answer the questions that follow.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ANA9sInNt58uIy9b3zX446CTntgT9SeD/view
Below is the reading selection:
Have you ever looked closely at a roller coaster? Did you realize it doesn’t have an engine? Have you ever stopped to WONDER how a roller coaster operates at such high speeds without one?
Since roller coasters don’t have engines, they must be pulled by a motorized chain to the top of the first big hill. As the roller coaster rises higher and higher into the air, its potential energy keeps growing until it reaches its maximum potential energy at the crest of the hill.
And why does it fall down that hill? It’s the same reason you fall down when you trip. Or why a ball hits the ground when you drop it. Gravity, of course!
When a roller coaster crests the first big hill, gravity takes over, causing the roller coaster to fall down. As the roller coaster falls, it accelerates and builds up enough energy to propel it through the remainder of the ride. No engine is required because of inertia.
In the case of a roller coaster, this means that the energy built up from the fall down the first hill could keep it going forever. We all know, though, that roller coaster rides don’t last forever. That’s because the roller coaster loses energy to other forces as it does loop-the-loops, curves, and other hills along the way.
These other forces eventually bring the roller coaster to a stop. So what are these other forces? Friction and air resistance. As you ride a roller coaster, its wheels rub along the rails, creating heat as a result of friction. This friction slows the roller coaster gradually, as does the air that you fly through as you ride the ride.
If you want to ride the world’s fastest roller coaster, you’ll need to catch a flight to Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, which is part of the United Arab Emirates. There you can ride the Formula Rossa, which reaches an amazing top speed of 149.1 miles per hour. The ride is so intense that passengers must wear goggles to protect their eyes!