Water Slide Collisions!

Water Slide Collisions

Nitro Racer – Water Country USA Williamsburg, Virginia

http://www.watercountryusa.com/wc/Explore/Rides.aspx?id=1098

http://pennrecord.com/news/collision-on-nitro-racer-basis-for-injury-claim-against-seaworld/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmZbJg4pi7o

Vertical Drop:  150ft (45.7m)

Length of Slide 320ft (97.5m)

Mass of Kid:  40kg

Mass of Father:  80kg

Collision occurs over .05s

Potential Energy = mgh

Kinetic Energy = 1/2mv²

Kid drops to vertical elevation of 25ft (7.6m)

Kid PE = (40kg)(9.8m/s²)(7.6) = 2980J

Man Drops to vertical elevation of 25ft (7.6m) before collision

Man PE at 95.5m = (80kg)(9.8m/s²)(45.7) = 35800J

Man PE at 7.6m = (80kg)(9.8m/s²)(7.6) = 5960J

Man KE at 7.6m = -mgh + mgh - mmg * sin(q)(d) =  Velocity of man before collision = -(80kg * 9.8m/s ² * 7.6m) + (80kg * 9.8m/s² * 45.7m) – (.2 *80kg*  9.8m/s²)(sin 28)(97.5m-16.2m) = 24.4m/s

The Collision!

M₁V₁ + M₂V₂ = v(M₁+M₂)

(80kg)(24.4m/s) + (40kg)(0m/s) = (120kg)(v) v= 16.2 m/s

Impulse = m∆v

Impulse = 120kg(16.2m/s-24.4m/s) = -984kg*m/s

Force = Impulse / ∆t

Force = 984kg*m/s / .05s

19,700N Very possible that serious injuries were sustained

30,000N needed to break some bones such as the patella

Chances are that the bones would not break!