Does the Dip Angle Change on a Rollercoaster with a Rotating Compass?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter hankaaron
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Angle Rollercoaster
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 2K views
hankaaron
Messages
83
Reaction score
4
Say I had a special type of compass which was free to rotate about its axis in the vertical plane. If I were to ride a roller coaster which had a 360 loop, would the dip angle of the compass needle change as I rode through the loop?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The dip angle depends on where you are on the planet in relation to the poles. If this "dip meter"was sensitive enough I can't see why it wouldn't change. I suppose if the loop were orientated east-west at the equator the change would be smaller than if north-south elsewhere.