h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yep, it's me again, with another coursework question! I'm trying to find the minimum height needed to loop-the-loop on a roller coaster, and I was wondering what safety margins I should have on my general value that I've worked out, like 10%, or even 200%, but I've no idea on how this should be worked out, so I need research values.

Research doesn't seem to have given me anything to work with so I was wondering what sort of buffers I should have... anybody able to give me a hand in this?

Caper Plip

If you want to work it out the hard way, you need speed squared / radius > 9.81 m/s2 at the top of the loop.

For the minimum release height buffer? I've already got an expression for the model for it being about 2.5 times the radius (my model's horribly simple for this), and I need an additional safety margin on top of that. I was thinking around 200% but I've got nothing to back it up with, with no research link. I'd prefer to get a suitable value from somewhere rather than working it out, then I can evaluate it and say 'yep, this didn't work, so I'll try this...'.

Caper Plip

The typical safety margin for engineers is 300%.

B

Thanks, B!

Caper Plip