The Physics of a Yo-yo
In everything that we do, there is some aspect of physics involved in it. Even if we are just standing still on the ground, or leaning up against a wall, there are still numerous forces acting upon us. This paper will tell of the physics involved in throwing a yo-yo.
When you release a yo-yo, gravity acts on its center of mass to pull the yo-yo downward. Because the string of the yo-yo is wrapped around the yo-yo's axle, and because one end of the string is attached to your finger, the yo-yo is forced to rotate as it drops. If the yo-yo could not rotate, it would not drop.
Just as any object falling in a gravitational field, the rate of drop increases with time (it decreases 9.8 meters every second to be exact) and so, necessarily, does the rotation rate of the yo-yo. The rate of drop and the rotation rate are greatest when the bottom is reached and the string is completely unwound. The spinning yo-yo contains rotational kinetic energy taken from the gravitation potential energy through which the yo-yo has dropped.
Usually, the string is tied loosely around the axle so that the yo-yo can continue to spin at the bottom. Because the full length of the string has been laid out, the yo-yo can drop no further and, consequently, the rotation rate cannot increase further. If left in this condition, the friction between the axle and the string will eventually dissipate the energy of rotation or, equivalently, the rotational kinetic energy of the yo-yo and the yo-yo will come to rest.
However, a momentary tug on the string causes the friction between the string and the axle briefly to increase so that the axle no longer slips within the string. When the axle stops slipping, the rotational kinetic energy of the spinning yo-yo is large enough to cause the string to wind around the axle. This causes the yo-yo to begin to "climb" back up the string. After the first one or two rotations, the string can no longer slip, so the process of climbing up the string continues beyond the momentary application of the tug.
As the yo-yo continues to climb back up the string, the angular momentum (rotational kinetic energy) of the yo-yo is converted back into gravitational potential corresponding to the increasing height of the center of mass of the yo-yo.
In this experiment we positioned a marble ball on a wooden roller coaster positioned on a physics stand in the sixth hole. Throughout the experiment, we used an electronic timer to record the time of the marble where it passed through the light beam of its clamp. We positioned the clamp at a certain point on the roller coaster and measured the distance from the marble to the clamp; the height of the clamp; and finally the time the ball traveled through the clamp. After we recorded these different figures we calculated the speed of the marble from the given distance traveled and the time. We repeated the step 14 times, then proceeded to graph the speed and the height. Next, we took the measurements of position of the clamp, height, and speed and calculated the potential energy, the kinetic energy, and the total energy. Total energy calculated as mentioned before. Potential energy is taking the mass (m) which is 28.1g times gravity (g) which is 9.8 m/s2 times the height. Kinetic energy is one-half times the mass (m) times velocity (v2). Finally we graphed the calculated kinetic, potential, and total energies of this experiment.
Gravity is the force that attracts a roller coaster to the Earth and determines how far along the track it was pulled. When a roller coaster crests a hill, the gravity takes over and pulls it along the track at a “constant rate of 9.8 meters per second squared”(1) according to the website Wonderopolis’ article titled “How Do Roller Coasters Work?”. This numerical value, (or concept), is called the acceleration of gravity. It means that no matter the shape, size or mass of an object on Earth, gravity will pull it down at a rate of 9.8 meters every second, assuming there are no other interfering factors to mess with the decimal. In the article “How does Gravity work?” Tom Harris describes gravity and height’s relationship by stating, “As the coaster gets higher in the air, gravity can pull it down a greater distance” (1). This means that if a roller coaster were on top of a hill one thousand feet high, it would be pulled a lot further along the track by gravity than a coaster on a hill with a crest one hundred feet. Why? Because the coaster at one thousand feet has a stronger pull towards the Earth and can go farther because of it. The aspects of gravity, the acceleration of gravity and its relationship with height, are all important aspects of the force gravity. In conclusion, gravity is a vital, while fascinating, type of phenomena to observe in roller
This can be explained by Bernoulli's Principle. Bernoulli, a 1700's physicist and mathematician, showed that the speed of an object through liquid/air changes the pressure of the air. The velocity of a spinning ball relative to the air is different from one side to the other, creating a low pressure on one side and a high pressure on the other. This causes the ball to move in the direction of the lower pressure. The golf ball is typically hit with an undercut, causing a reverse rotation and therefore a lifting action on the ball.
the length of the slope can be used to calculate the speed of the car
through. Then, the snares are gone. In this experiment I will investigate the way in which the height from which it is dropped affects the bounce of a table tennis ball. The ball is a Planning Objects that fall vertically, without air resistance, all have the same effect. same acceleration at ground level on Earth, which is 9.80665m/s2.
The Goliath roller coaster, located in Six Flags over Georgia, is considered by many as the most exhilarating ride you can possibly experience. With a height of 200ft, a top speed of 70mph, and a total length of 4480 ft, it surely had the best engineers on deck. From a quick glance, it’s obvious that many factors have to be taken into consideration in order to run, operate, and understand a machine of this magnitude. At its highest point of 200 ft, the Goliath roller coaster will reach its highest potential energy. From that point, it will accelerate downward until its highest possible velocity is achieved, which in this case is 70 miles per hour. In addition, due to it traveling downward, and the roller coaster having numerous turns, twists,
You apprehensively walk up the iron steps and onto the platform. You’re reluctant to go any further, but your friend eggs you on, saying, “It’s not that fast.” You step into the seat and pull the harness down over you. No, this isn’t the latest, greatest technological frontier. It’s a roller coaster. Since 1804 when the first wheeled roller coaster- called “Les Montagnes Russes”- was constructed in Paris, France, roller coasters have been a staple of adventure and fantasy among children and children-at-heart. But there’s no magic involved with these fantastic creations, there’s a plethora of forces and laws governing their every movement. From kinetic energy to inertia, roller coasters are intricate engineering marvels that function through the laws of physics. This is a look into those physics that result in a thrill ride unlike any other.
Our machine showed physics in many ways. It used Newtons laws, collisions, and more aspects of physics. Our project showed ten different aspects in detail. This is our machine.
“Even though roller coasters propel you through the air, shoot you through tunnels, and zip you down and around many hills and loops, they are quite safe and can prove to be a great way to get scared, feel that sinking feeling in your stomach, and still come out of it wanting to do it all over again (1).” Thanks to the manipulation of gravitational and centripetal forces humans have created one of the most exhilarating attractions. Even though new roller coasters are created continuously in the hope to create breathtaking and terrifying thrills, the fundamental principles of physics remain the same. A roller coaster consists of connected cars that move on tracks due to gravity and momentum. Believe it or not, an engine is not required for most of the ride. The only power source needed is used to get to the top first hill in order to obtain a powerful launch. Physics plays a huge part in the function of roller coasters. Gravity, potential and kinetic energy, centripetal forces, conservation of energy, friction, and acceleration are some of the concepts included.
The higher an object is held, the more potential energy it has (if it is going to be dropped). When that object, such as the basketball, is dropped, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. The closer the ball gets to the ground, the more its potential energy decreases and its kinetic energy increases. The reason the ball does not bounce up all the way back to its original drop point is because when it hits the surface, some of its kinetic energy is “l...
Take the measuring tape and measure the length of the string the bob is hanging on. Ensure that this length stays constant throughout the
== Measure the angular velocity of a flywheel and use conservation of energy to calculate its moment of inertia. Apparatus = == ==
There are some ways Disney can change or add things to their safety features. One way they could change it would be to add sensors on the belt during the whole ride. Normally, the sensor are used just to tell when the belt is buckled in, not when it disconnects. The sensor would inform a cast member that the belt disconnected, and the cast member could safely and efficiently stall the ride to fix the problem. Another major change would be to add grate-like material to the tops and bottoms of all carts. The normal steel “cage” constricted the air flow and could potentially damage the exterior and major components to the safety of the ride. The final fall, at the moment, is pretty jerky. The final major change would be to add magnetic brakes instead of mechanical. This would allow for a softer final
There are two forces, which affect the spring. The first force is gravity which is the force exerted by the gravitational field of a massive object on body within the vicinity of its surface. The force of gravity on earth has value approximately 9.81 m/s2 and always equals to the weight of the object as the equation: F = mg. m is mass (in kg) and g is gravity on earth (John, 2009). The second force is spring force; the magnitude of the force is directly proportional to the amount of stretch or compression of the spring.
Projectile motion is the force that acts upon an object that is released or thrown into the air. Once the object is in the air, the object has two significant forces acting upon it at the time of release. These forces are also known as horizontal and vertical forces. These forces determine the flight path and are affected by gravity, air resistance, angle of release, speed of release, height of release and spin