Roller Coaster Engineering

[deleted-697156]

Hi there!
My name is Clarissa and in order to fulfill the IB DP requirements, we were told to make this 4000-word essay called the Extended Essay. The topic I've chosen is, "Is it possible to identify an efficient roller coaster track design that keeps normal forces constant throughout the ride?". In order to answer this research question, I wanted to identify aspects of a roller coaster that I could manipulate in order to give the rider a smooth and comfortable ride that is physically minimizes any friction.
In attempt to answer this question, I have research extensively and tried to understand all these unfamiliar concepts that seemed quite overwhelming for a high-school student. I have finally found an article about a similar problem here: https://arxiv.org/abs/1007.1394
However, it dealt with so many mathematical formulas and context-specific concepts that I find myself getting more anxious. It referenced the Kepler's problem which dealt with planetary motion and I couldn't understand a thing no matter how hard I tried. I kept looking at other resources, but none that directly tells me that my research question had a definite answer, a doable answer. I was hoping that there was another way of approaching this problem, perhaps identifying different track designs and assessing which one's suitable to keep these normal forces constant? Despite all that, I need some kind of guidance which I was hoping to find here.
I know that it's a lot to ask, but I would be so very very grateful if you can take some of your time to reply and perhaps, lead me towards a better path. Is my research question doable? Can it be answered? If so, how?
Thank you for your attention!

[norman40]

Hi Clarissa,

You've chosen an interesting topic. The article that you mentioned in your post does have at lot of very heavy math in it! I can't follow it either. But the article does indicate that a roller coaster can be designed (in theory) with a constant normal force. And I think the article at the following link is about a such a design:

https://www.insidescience.org/news/pape ... aster-ride

Does your assignment require that you include a mathematical solution? If not, my suggestion is that you slightly change the aim of your essay. You mentioned that you wanted to identify roller coaster elements that provide a comfortable ride. Perhaps you can make “ride comfort” the subject of your paper. Normal force may be one of the comfort elements you discuss. And the following link has a good definition with examples:

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/ ... rk-Physics

I hope this helps. Please ask again if you have more questions.

A. Norman

[deleted-697156]

Hello, Norman!
Thanks a lot for replying
I will definitely consider changing my aim, especially since all the mathematical formulas seems so overwhelming.
I will check out the links suggested prior to that. Your answer is greatly appreciated, thank you so much!