science fair help

[iam_not_2fast4u]

so iam doing the science fair porject entitled: does weight and the position of the weights effect how far a roller coaster will go? and iam not sure what to star looking up. i need to write a paper on it and need some ideas. thanks

 

[uzi9mm]

I would google gravity , inertia, and possible/kinetic energy theories...........

 

[M4A1]

It also depends on what type of dimensions you're going to present your project it. Is it going to be one-dimensional kinematics, two dimensional, or three dimensional? Most all real world forces are in three dimensional, but that might be out of your league if this is for a MS/HS project becuase all you learn in physics class is one and two dimensional concepts.

Look up projectile motion, one-dimensional and two-dimensional kinematics, velocity/speed/acceleration vectors, forces (Newton's 3 laws), centripital force & circular motion.

These should be a decent list for a HS science fair proj

If you're going to prove physics concepts mathematically, make sure you have some variables such as mass (m), acceleration of gravity (g)...

If you need anymore help, you can e-mail me.

 

[ncjimn]

If like Pratik said this is for HS or lower, you pretty much need to base everything on 2-dimentional forces/energy. Especially Pontential energy (since PE = weight*height = mgh). Since energy is conserved you can convert potential energy into kinetic energy (energy of motion) assuming there is no friction etc.

So in conclusion:

Potential energy = mass*gravity*height
Kinetic energy = 1/2*mass*velocity^2

At the top where KE is 0, there is some PE. At the bottom where PE is 0, there is some KE. The higher the rollercoaster starts (more PE) the more speed it will have at the bottom of its path (KE).