roller coaster formula

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forton
Posts: 210
Joined: 25 Nov 2011, 17:57

roller coaster formula

Post by forton » 11 Jun 2013, 16:13

I'm trying to create some roller coaster dynamics in ice, using a curve as track and a particle as cart.
Does anyone knows of an example (script, icetree) that explains the formula for the relationship between gravity and the track?

Cheers, Wim

Judicator
Posts: 39
Joined: 18 Apr 2013, 09:26

Re: roller coaster formula

Post by Judicator » 08 Jul 2013, 16:37

It's school physics. That's why nobody remembers that.
But basically you need to know all the forces that are involved and their strength. Since there's no constant (besides gravity), you can make them up.
Basically you have a gravity, which pulls you down, you have a track drag, which has a vector, always opposite to car's direction. Then you have your "mini" engine (on a roller coaster you don't just go down the hill, you actually drive, so you can't stop until engines are down :) ). And, of course, the wind, which can have a constant vector.
Choose the vectors and play around with strengths. There's not much more you can do, unless you're trying to make everything physically accurate. In that case there are lot's of variables.

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