The Victor Charlie The Victor Charlie VortexVortex

By: Brandon BowmanBy: Brandon BowmanCharles GainesCharles Gaines

Eric LindseyEric LindseyDan WilliamsonDan Williamson

The TeamThe Team

IntroductionIntroduction• Our project’s goal was to create a device that Our project’s goal was to create a device that

resembled a roller coaster, and also allowed an resembled a roller coaster, and also allowed an object to run on itself for at least 15 seconds .object to run on itself for at least 15 seconds .

• Almost all of the parts we used were found Almost all of the parts we used were found around in one of our homes. We purchased the around in one of our homes. We purchased the pvc piping at Home Depot for a total of four pvc piping at Home Depot for a total of four dollars.dollars.

• Other expenses were the cost of the wood to Other expenses were the cost of the wood to build the base, a few screws, and the metal build the base, a few screws, and the metal rods used to enclose the middle of the project.rods used to enclose the middle of the project.

OverviewOverview• To start our device, a person drops a To start our device, a person drops a

marble into the opening at the top of marble into the opening at the top of the device. Then the marble travels the device. Then the marble travels along the track, gradually working along the track, gradually working its way down from one length of pipe its way down from one length of pipe to another. At the end, the marble to another. At the end, the marble enters a funnel where it comes to a enters a funnel where it comes to a stop.stop.

VelocityVelocity• The velocity of the marble at any point in The velocity of the marble at any point in

the course of the device is given by the the course of the device is given by the distance travelled in the current piece of distance travelled in the current piece of pipe, divided by 32.2 (acceleration of pipe, divided by 32.2 (acceleration of gravity) and the sine between the angle gravity) and the sine between the angle of the pipe and the horizontal, and then of the pipe and the horizontal, and then raised to the .5. The resultant time raised to the .5. The resultant time amount is then multiplied by 32.2 and amount is then multiplied by 32.2 and the aforementioned angle sine. This the aforementioned angle sine. This gives the velocity of the marble.gives the velocity of the marble.

EnergyEnergy• The kinetic energy of the marble at The kinetic energy of the marble at

any time is the mass of the marble, any time is the mass of the marble, divided by two, and multiplied by the divided by two, and multiplied by the square of the velocity found square of the velocity found previously.previously.

Flushed!!!Flushed!!!

ConclusionsConclusions• The building of the project took 8 hours of The building of the project took 8 hours of

work by all four team members. Much work by all four team members. Much more time was used in planning and more time was used in planning and reports.reports.

• We encountered some problems We encountered some problems including:including:– The marble stopping when it dropped from The marble stopping when it dropped from

one pipe to anotherone pipe to another– The marble encountering resistance where The marble encountering resistance where

paint had run.paint had run.• One should spray paint outside.One should spray paint outside.