Roller Coaster Project
Purpose: This project will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge of motion, energy, and forces, as well as
other areas of physics that may apply. It is meant to be a fun at home project, and you may get help from your
family members just as you did with the Newton’s Laws Project.
Requirements:
1) The Roller Coaster – Using any materials that you wish, construct a roller coaster that will meet the
requirements and allow your marble passenger to safely reach the end of the ride.
a. We will be using marbles for the “roller coaster cars.”
b. Possible materials: tubing, wood, boxes, foil, glue, PVC piping, plastic bottles, paper, etc…
2) Presentation of roller coaster – This should be three minutes max, and should demonstrate the areas of
physics as well as perform a run of the roller coaster. This can be done “live” in class, a video of your
presentation / roller coaster, or a combination of the two.
3) Data table/calculations – see rubric for more information
Due Date: February 16, 2016
I understand that my student is responsible for completing this project at home. The project counts as a test
grade and will receive a 10 point deduction for each class it is late. Projects will not be accepted after
February 22, 2016. Grading will be based on the attached rubrics.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please detach this portion and return, stating the above criteria are understood concerning the roller coaster
project.
______________________________
Student Name
Student Signature
______________________________
Parent Signature
Roller Coaster Project and Rules
Introduction: Six Flags Amusement Park has been hearing from its customers that their roller coasters are
boring. The public is threatening that if the amusement park does not build a new, more exciting roller coaster
they will stop going to the amusement park.
You are part of a team of engineers that has just been asked to submit a new roller coaster design to the
amusement park. Using the concepts of forces, motion, and energy, design and build a model of a workable
roller coaster that could be built in the Six Flags Amusement Park.
To appease the public, your roller coaster must have a “thrill factor.” There must be at least two hills, at least
one loop, and if possible, a “jump” or turn. Your roller coaster also needs to be safe for the public, so you will
also need to calculate the speed, Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy of various locations on your roller
coaster.
You will need to be able to explain your roller coaster to the board of directors of Six Flags. You will need to
include in your explanation why you think your roller coaster is the “best choice” and should be built in the
amusement park. Keep in mind that the board of directors is made up of a team of scientists. You will want to
impress them with your knowledge of how forces, motion and energy help your roller coaster work, why it is
safe to ride, and why it is “thrilling.”
Rules
1) You will build your roller coaster at home using whatever materials you would like to use.
2) Your roller coaster must have at least 2 hills and 1 vertical loop.
3) Your roller coaster must bring your marble safely to a stop. Drops and jumps are permitted, but the marble
must be safely caught by the track without getting stuck.
4) Hills and loops must involve trading potential energy for kinetic energy (and vice versa).
5) Sketch a diagram of your roller coaster to scale and include a key.
6) Give your roller coaster a name.
7) Complete at least 10 test runs of your roller coaster and record your data on the data sheet.
8) You will be graded on the roller coaster design, functionality, calculations, and oral presentation (see
rubric).
9) If you prefer, you may make a video of your roller coaster completing the trials. Save the video to a flash
drive so it can be easily saved and viewed in class. You must be visible in the video (so we know it’s
yours). Also, if the video is your complete presentation, you must describe the coaster and make your pitch
in the video.
Roller Coaster Research Guiding Questions
In preparation for design and construction of your roller coaster, conduct research and find the answers to the
following questions. There are numerous sources of information available to you. A list of suggested resources
and simulations are found below. Answer the questions on your own paper. This is a separate classwork grade.
Resources
http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterHistory/
http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/roller-coaster.htm
http://www.unitedstreaming.com/videos/dsc/externalApplications/interactiveVideos/index.html?vid=12R
http://www.britannica.com/topic/roller-coaster
http://www.kidzworld.com/article/4633-how-roller-coasters-work
http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/parkphysics.html
http://discoverykids.com/games/build-a-coaster/
http://www.fearofphysics.com/Roller/roller.html
http://pbskids.org/fetch/games/coaster/index.html
1. How did roller coasters come to be? Where did the idea come from? What is the history?
2. Fun facts – find 5 interesting facts about roller coasters. (the tallest, the fastest, etc.)
3. What materials are used in creating coasters?
4. What is the difference between steel and wooden coasters?
5. How does a roller coaster work?
6. What effect does mass have on a roller coaster?
7. What effect does friction have on roller coasters?
8. What is potential energy? Where on a roller coaster is there the most potential energy?
9. What is kinetic energy? Where on a roller coaster is there the most kinetic energy?
10. Where on a roller coaster are there equal amounts of potential energy and kinetic energy?
11. How does gravity move roller coasters around the track?
12. What is the use of the first hill of a roller coaster?
13. How does the height of each hill affect the coaster?
14. What are some of the safety features / regulations of roller coasters?
15. How will science help you design your coaster?
Data Table
Trial
Time (seconds)
Trial #1
Trial #2
Trial #3
Trial #4
Trial #5
Trial #6
Trial #7
Trial #8
Trial #9
Trial #10
Length of the Track =
meters
Mass of the marble (car) =
kilograms
(To convert from grams, divide by 1000.)
Calculations and Analysis
1. Sketch a diagram of your roller coaster. Draw the diagram to scale and be sure to include a key as well
as your measurements (height of the hills, length of the track, etc.)
2. LABEL the following points on your roller coaster diagram:
a. Where the kinetic energy is the highest
b. Where the kinetic energy is the lowest
c. Where the potential energy is the highest
d. Where the potential energy is the lowest
e. Where there is positive acceleration
f. Where there is negative acceleration
g. Energy Transformations
Using the measurements from your data page, calculate the following items for your roller coaster.
Please show all of your work and label all of your answers with the correct units!!!!
3. Average Time of ride = _____________________ (seconds)
4. Average speed of the ride (remember your speed equation???)
5. Gravitational Potential Energy at the beginning of your ride P.E=m*h*9.8m/s2
6. Kinetic Energy at the end of your roller coaster (use your speed from #4 as your velocity): K.E = m x v2
2
Roller Coaster Project Rubrics
Criteria for Calculations and Analysis:
Roller Coaster Sketch / Diagram
12
Where the kinetic energy is the highest
2
Where the kinetic energy is the lowest
2
Where the potential energy is the highest
2
Where the potential energy is the lowest
2
Where there is positive acceleration (speeding up)
2
Where there is negative acceleration (slowing down)
3
Time of Ride (in seconds)
2
Length of Track (in meters)
2
Average Speed (velocity) of the ride
2
Gravitational P.E at beginning of ride
2
Kinetic Energy at the end of ride
2
Total Points
35
Criteria for Presentation
Possible Points Points Earned
Presentation was appropriate length (2-3 minutes)
5
Information was organized
5
Presentation was understandable
5
Total Points
15
Criteria for the Actual Roller Coaster
Possible Points
Appearance: Does the roller coaster look good? Is
it neat? Does it have a name?
10
Safety: Does the marble stay on the track? Does
the marble complete the entire track without getting
stuck or stopping? Is it brought to a stop?
10
Number of loops/Hills: Does the roller coaster
have one or more loops and 2 or more hills?
10
Building: Does your marble go off the track? Does
it touch anything other than the track before the
end? Did you follow the rules?
10
Thrill: Is the track open for all/part of the ride?
Can the passengers “see” out? How abrupt are any
changes in motion? Are there any jumps?
10
Total Points
50
Final Grade
Points Earned