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Least wet seat on Splash Mtn.?
- Thread starter jjharvpro
- Start date
Timekeeper
Well-Known Member
If you are referring to un-attached free fall, sure. Two balls of the same size dropped from the same height but varying in weight will hit the ground at the same time. Most of us have tried this by third grade. But Splash Mountain, like a roller coaster, is a different story. You have to account for ride/track friction, momentum, etc. And mass does correlate with momentum, which we might refer to simply as acceleration or speed. :sohappy:
WorldKey
Member
This is a joke with my friends and I because I have yet to ride Splash Mtn all of the years since it has been open without getting dumped on with that water from the fake splash.....always wet before the ride even begins!!
Originally Posted by Becky
Forget air resistance. More weight equals more water displacement and much more resistance therefore actually a boat with one person only occupying the last seat should be fastest.
Forget air resistance. More weight equals more water displacement and much more resistance therefore actually a boat with one person only occupying the last seat should be fastest.
That would be the case if the boat actually went down the drop in the water and not on wheels on a track.
I stand corrected Dave, but now from Timekeeper
"If you are referring to un-attached free fall, sure....But Splash Mountain, like a roller coaster, is a different story. You have to account for ride/track friction..."
So with more weight on the wheels on the track wouldn't the resulting extra friction counteract the extra weight completely changing the mass=spead picture for an item not in free space?
By the way no matter where I sit the water cannons drown me.
loveofamouse
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I ride Splash just about every trip. I never(knock on wood) get soaked. Seriously, I always sit in the back two seats and I duck for the fall and sit on the left for the after splashes while also d__________g. At the most, I get a wet back but not soaked.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Becky
Forget air resistance. More weight equals more water displacement and much more resistance therefore actually a boat with one person only occupying the last seat should be fastest.
That would be the case if the boat actually went down the drop in the water and not on wheels on a track.
I stand corrected Dave
"If you are referring to un-attached free fall, sure....But Splash Mountain, like a roller coaster, is a different story. You have to account for ride/track friction..."
So with more weight on the wheels on the track wouldn't the resulting extra friction counteract the extra weight completely changing the mass=spead picture for an item not in free space?
By the way no matter where I sit the water cannons drown me.
Oh you do not want to open this can of worms
In reality, it is a very complex problem, but in the grand scheme of things the difference in weigh has little effect.
Some minor points to consider. There are are two frictional forces at play here - sliding and rolling friction. Both are dependent on the normal force to the surface. Of course the normal force is dependent on the mass of the vehicle. (F=ma - a being gravity in this case)
Then of course there is the inertia of the wheels themselves. A rolling body will NOT accellerate at 9.8 m/s^2 in the z direction, a sliding body on a frictionless plane will. As the body rolls, it will gain inertia.
At the top of the slope the vehicle will have a potential energy of mgh (mass x gravity x height) at the bottom it will have a kinetic energy of (1/2)(m)(v^2) minus any losses. notice that the mass (the m) is on both sides of the equation. Mass does not matter, except when it impacts losses. The difference that mass has on something like a ride vehicle in the flume is minor.
As momentum is concerned, it does not even enter the picture. Momentum is conserved only when there are no external forces acting on the objects (depending on the refrence frame). Gravity is in play here - so there is an external force. at the top of the hill there is no momentum (well, mimimal momentum to be accurate) at the bottom P=mv (p is momentum)
This concludes today's Physics 101 lessson
(Actualy it is more along the lines of 12th grade physics if I recall the first time I took this stuff many years ago)
-dave
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
P=mv
Acceleration does not even enter the equation.
Momentum is measured in kg*m/s
Speed (velocity, it is a vector indeed) is in m/s
Accelleration is in m/s^2
They are three very distinct, different, qualitites.
-dave
DrummerAlly
Well-Known Member
As a high school physics teacher, this thread has made me want to throw up.
Thank you phone dave for calming my physics-nerd-nerves.
The only relevant part of this discussion was that the possible decrease in mass by not allowing 3 people in parts of the log will decrease the frictional force (yes, both static and rolling). I can just about assure you there will be no noticeable change in the final velocity of the logs and the amount of water you get drenched with.
Try the back row or a poncho. :wave:
Thank you phone dave for calming my physics-nerd-nerves.
The only relevant part of this discussion was that the possible decrease in mass by not allowing 3 people in parts of the log will decrease the frictional force (yes, both static and rolling). I can just about assure you there will be no noticeable change in the final velocity of the logs and the amount of water you get drenched with.
Try the back row or a poncho. :wave:
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the validation.
While not a physics teacher, I took many years of physics, mechanics, statics, dynamics, fluid dynamics, steel design, concrete design, etc etc etc.
I know it's picky but it irks me when people start talking about "the weight of gravity" and "you get thrown into a car door going around a turn" and "centrifugal forces"
Must be hell for you
-dave
loveofamouse
Well-Known Member
I figured that had to be some type of science teacher in this population that would pop in and do some correcting. I'm not into physics(i love bio) but I've been laughing through this thread. You're awesome, Dave, to keep at it.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
Not a teacher. M.S. in Civil Engineering
I also had a GREAT High School physics teacher who sort of kicked this whole physics/engineering thing off with me.
-dave
DrummerAlly
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the validation.
While not a physics teacher, I took many years of physics, mechanics, statics, dynamics, fluid dynamics, steel design, concrete design, etc etc etc.
I know it's picky but it irks me when people start talking about "the weight of gravity" and "you get thrown into a car door going around a turn" and "centrifugal forces"
Must be hell for you
-dave
There are some great physics teachers here in New Jersey.
When I see or read all of the horrible interpretations of physics I just try to remember that its not my classroom and it's really not a discussion about Newton's Laws... its a discussion about __________ .
Tom
Beta Return
Physics makes my head hurt....and I majored in Construction Engineering. Fortunately, I don't have to really use it in my daily life, so I've forgotten most stuff
Back on topic, after riding it a few more times today, I must confirm that the logs are probably NEW, and that they likely weight more than the old logs (because of the mechanical parts associated with the new lap bars).
One of our logs rode NOTICEABLY lower in the water than others (after watching from the bridge later, there were several logs that sat lower in the water than others...and it was not associated with the weight of the passengers). The splash at the bottom of the hills is indeed bigger now. The front row of passengers almost always received a nice dose of water, while those of us in the back typically only got some overspray from the splashdowns.
Fortunately, they've had the cannons and waterfall on "low" this week, making for a much dryer experience overall. My wife and I wore ponchos, but we didn't end up needing them in the back row today.
Back on topic, after riding it a few more times today, I must confirm that the logs are probably NEW, and that they likely weight more than the old logs (because of the mechanical parts associated with the new lap bars).
One of our logs rode NOTICEABLY lower in the water than others (after watching from the bridge later, there were several logs that sat lower in the water than others...and it was not associated with the weight of the passengers). The splash at the bottom of the hills is indeed bigger now. The front row of passengers almost always received a nice dose of water, while those of us in the back typically only got some overspray from the splashdowns.
Fortunately, they've had the cannons and waterfall on "low" this week, making for a much dryer experience overall. My wife and I wore ponchos, but we didn't end up needing them in the back row today.
skimbob
Well-Known Member
I always sit in the last seat and duck. In the Disney books I have read they say they turn off the cannons at night but others on here have said they got wet at night. I also know that the water that drops can hit any rider. My sister got totally soaked at Disneyland. she had to buy new clothes with how wet she was. Wear a poncho if your worried. Better safe than sorry I always say. I will be at WDW the first week in Match. I can hardly wait to be back. Have fun while you are there.
Thrill Seeker
Well-Known Member
Here's a novel idea... If you don't want to get wet... DON'T RIDE! What a concept...
WDW_Princess
New Member
We always make sure that we sit in the front. We have our hands up long enough to snap a photo and then we duck. I have never been soaked, only a little damp on my back. The view from the front is the best, IMO.
Thrill Seeker
Well-Known Member
Whenever people ask what seat is the driest, I always tell them it's A Small World...