Giant Drop

For the Giant drop ride if you wanted to find the final velocity you would multiply the acceleration of gravity, which is 9.81m/s/s, times the amount of time it took for you to fall. This equation is Vf(velocity final)=Vi(velocity initial)+a(acceleration)*t(time). Since the initial velocity of the drop is zero we don't have to worry about adding that on. The final velocity comes out to be about 84 miles/hour. This equation says nothing about mass or weight meaning that the weight of the passengers does not affect the speed it falls.

When the cart is moving upwards there is kinetic and gravitational energy. Right as it is dropped there is gravitational energy and about half way through there is a great amount of dissipated energy that slows the ride down. The dissipated energy comes from the magnetic braking system. This system has no friction because magnets to not have to touch to slow the ride down. The magnets are on the pole and the cart of the ride so that when the cart passes by the magnets on the poles there is a great attraction between them and it slows the ride down to a stop.

When the ride is going up it starts off slow and gradually moves faster. This is probably because of the magnets. At first there is some strain on the cords lifting the cart because the magnets are attracting to each other and causing the ride to slow down. Once the cart gets past the magnets it is easier for the cords to lift the cart and it begins to accelerate.

G-force is felt mostly when the cart is dropped. Immediately you begin accelerating downward. This is felt by the speed and the wind seeming to go upwards. I also felt my insides seemed to push up and you get a jolt of adrenaline. I could see all around me that I was dropping and the air whistled through my ears.

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to go on this trip! It was very fun and we made a lot of memories as well as applying our knowledge from physics.