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Pirate Ship Physics
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Playland Pirate Ship Physics
The
Pirate Ship
The Pirate Ship is an amusement park ride that uses a combination of mechanics and gravity in order to swing its riders in a pendulum motion. It has been a popular attraction at Playland since its opening in 1984.
Data
Vertical Height of Ride: 20 m
Height at Highest Peak: 12.33 m
Number of Complete Swings: 11
Duration of One Swing: 7 s
Total Ride Duration: 136 s
Mass: 2000 kg
What causes gravity?
Gravity is the downward magnetic force that pulls all objects with mass towards the center of the Earth.
What is friction?
Friction is the force that resists motion in an object. Static friction keeps an immobile object at rest, while kinetic friction slows down a moving object.
The Physics
of the Ride
A large wheel underneath the Pirate Ship's body initiates the
movement of the ride. The wheel pushes the ship from side to
side, gradually accelerating and rising higher into the air. As the ship reaches its highest point with its given velocity, gravity pulls it back down towards the Earth, and the arms suspend it in a pendulum motion. If this were a freestanding ride, it would eventually slow down after reaching its apex due to external
factors such as kinetic friction on the wheel, wind resistance, and
mechanical friction in the rides joints and arms. These external
forces would cause the system to lose energy in the form of
heat, sound, and other forms of resistance. However, in
reality the wheel acts as a brake, slowing the
swinging motion down to a stop.