Storm+Runner

 Storm Runner Michelle, Spencer, Emma, Emily media type="file" key="Storm Runner.mov"  Filmed by Emma using Michelle's camera

The Storm Runner is rated as an aggressive thrill ride. The Storm Runner uses hydraulic launching, and it accelerates from zero to seventy-two miles per hour in only two seconds. The rider restraint system relies on the hydraulics, meaning that there is no manual release system. At the beginning of the ride, the cart pulls out of the double sided station onto a straight away track. After leaving the station, the coaster sits on the track while the sound of a beating heart is heard, which is projected through speakers. The hydraulic launch system pulls the coaster back a few feet, and then a voice says, "Now get ready, here we go," and the coaster takes off instantaneously. The first hill is a completely vertical, and at the top of the hill the coaster drops to a very low speed, preparing the riders for the following drop of eighteen stories. The track continues into inversion loops, and later into a snake dive. The duration of the ride is fifty seconds, which is short for those who love roller coasters, but very long for those whose stomachs cannot handle the thrill.

 In the following calculations these values were used

Average weight of a person = 150 lbs = 68.18 kg Minimum car mass = 500 lbs = 227.27 kg To get the mass overall value 68.18 (20 people per car) + 227.27 = 1590.64 kg Total Mass = 1590.64 kg

Conversions from lbs to kg 1 kg - 2.2 lbs 150/2.2 = 68.18 kg 500/2.2 = 227.27 kg

 Power of Hydraulics P = (w/T) P = (change in KE/t) P = ((1/2)mv^2/t)

v = (72 mph/1 hr) X (5280 ft/1 mi) X (12 in/1 ft) X (2.54 cm/1 in) X (1 m/100 cm) X (1 hr/60 min) X (1 mm/ 60 sec) = 32.18688 m/s = 32.19 m/s

P = (((1/2)(1590.64)(32.19 m/s)^2))/(2) P = 412052.8063 watts P = (412052.8063 w)/1 X ((1 hp)/746) = 552.35 hp

 MAX HEIGHT

mgh = 1/2mv^2 (1590.64)(9.8)(5.5) = 1/2(1590.64)v^2 v^2 = 1078 v = 32.83m/s This is the increased speed as a result of the drop.

CENTRIPETAL FORCE

Fc = (mv^2)/r diameter = 46m/2 = 23m

Fc = 1590.64(32.83)^2/23 F = 74593.39N F = 7.45*10^4 N

ac = v^2/r ac = (32.83)^2 / 23 ac = 46.86m/s^2

This is approximately 4G's of acceleration.