A. Introduction to Roller Coaster Design
Students use the
interactive windows below to mark peak and valley points of the indicated
straight stretch portions of the roller coasters. Cubic polynomials are automatically drawn to
connect successive peak/valley points.
Coordinates of the marked points are shown. The slope value at the point of steepest
descent/ascent of the cubic polynomial path is also shown.
Colossus
image from
www.ultimaterollercoaster.com
Greyhound and
The Devil images from Ken's Classic Coaster Postcards
Steel Dragon and Shivering Timbers images from
www.coastergallery.com
Assignment
For
Colossus and Steel Dragon
- Point and click to mark the peak and
valley point of the indicated drop.
Choose peak and valley points so that the connecting cubic
polynomial provides a close fit to the actual path of the coaster.
- What is the minimum value of the slope
along your path?
- What is the angle of steepest descent
along your path?
- What is the vertical drop of your
path?
- What is the thrill of your path?
For
Greyhound, The Devil, and Shivering Timbers
- Point and click to mark peak and
valley points along the indicated path of the coaster. Choose peak and valley points so that
the connecting polynomials provide a close fit to the actual path of the
coaster.
- What is the minimum (maximum) value of
the slope along each fall (rise) of your path?
- What is the angle of steepest descent
(ascent) along each fall (rise) of your path?
- What is the vertical drop of each fall
of your path?
- What is the thrill of your path?