beautypg.com

PASCO ME-9812 Roller Coaster User Manual

Page 16

background image

Model No. ME-9812

Roller Coaster

15

®

7. Brachistochrone vs. Straight Track

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Which car
will travel from Point A to Point B (Configuration 7) in the least time:
the car on the curved track or the car on the straight track?

8. Brachistochrone vs. Brachistochrone at Different Start

Positions

Put two tracks side by side along the Brachistochrone path (See

Configuration 8). Start one car at the top of one of the tracks and start
the other car half-way down the other track. Release both cars at the
same time and see which car reaches the bottom first.

How does the time to go down the brachistochrone vary with different
start positions?

Configuration 7: Brachistochrone vs. Straight Track

B

A

Configuration 8: Brachistochrone vs. Brachistochrone