Name______Date______Block____

7th Grade Science-Roller Coaster Project

Group Members: ______

Overall Synopsis:

LT: I can explain using data how factors such as magnitude, distance and mass impact the force of gravity in various scenarios.

Your task for this assignment is going to be to design and build a roller coaster using only poster board, index cards, masking tape and straws.

You must build your roller coaster so that it takes 20 seconds for a marble to travel the course from the top to the bottom.

Because your marble is required to travel down the track you design in 20 seconds, you will need to use trial and error to change your track to speed up and slow down the marble.

Along with a certain length of coaster, you must include at least two hills (the beginning and another) and a loop. You will also have to describe how gravity impacts the cars and riders on these roller coaster features.

Day 1: What are G Forces?

Use the reading below and the links on the Padlet to answer the questions before designing your coaster

G-Forces From the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions

  • Equal the force of gravity
  • One G is equal to the normal pull of earth’s gravity on the body
  • Modern-day ride designers employ a steady stream of advances to create new, unique and safe amusement rides and attractions
  • Amusement ride manufacturers applied the industry’s biodynamic knowledge (collected over year) as it relates to g-forces to the design and construction of rides to ensure a safe experience
  • While technological gains have led to the development of bigger and faster rides, overall g-forces levels have generally remained the same because riders’ tolerance levels have no changed.

When discussing the effects of g-forces on a person who is on a ride, the duration of the g-force and the multitude of other variables must be considered. When it comes to the higher g sections of amusement ride, exposure often lasts fractions of a second. Therefore, the rider does not experience any adverse effects. Blackouts and other health issues associated with Gs require exposure to g-forces which are either greater in magnitude or of much longer duration than those achieved by todays’ amusement rides.

A study by Murray Allen, MD, Ian Weir- Jones, P. End, Ph. D., and several other doctors and engineers was published in the November 1994 edition of Spone. The study found that in one event of daily activity, the vector acceleration of 10.4 g was experienced uneventfully.” Our bodies are exposed to greater gravitation pull during our everyday lives than that of an amusement park ride.

Examples of every day gravitation forces

  • Sneeze 2.9
  • Cough 3.5
  • Crowd Jostle 3.6
  • Slap on the back 4.1
  • Hop off the step 8.1
  • Plop down in a chair 10.1

At least five independent scientific reviews have analyzed the issues of amusement ride g-forces and all five have concluded. The rotational accelerations experience by the head during rides pose no risk of brain injury to the general populace.

Questions to answer before designing

What is the gravitational pull on Earth? ______

How does this compare to other planets?

Planet Name / Standard Gravitational Pull
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto (the lost planet)

What are G Forces? ______

Why do the G forces change on a coaster? ______

Would the force of gravity be the same or different on all the passengers? Explain your reasoning with evidence. ______

Using the roller coaster model below label where the strongest G forces would be and where the lowest G forces would be?

Day 2: Coaster Design

Coaster Design Research:

Using the table below research 3 coasters (can be worldwide).

Name of Coaster / Number of Hills / Number of Loops / G Forces / Speed
Highest Hill:
Lowest Hill: / Tallest Loop:
Smallest Loops / Max G Force:
Min G Force:
Highest Hill:
Lowest Hill: / Tallest Loop:
Smallest Loops / Max G Force:
Min G Force:
Highest Hill:
Lowest Hill: / Tallest Loop:
Smallest Loops / Max G Force:
Min G Force:
Highest Hill:
Lowest Hill: / Tallest Loop:
Smallest Loops / Max G Force:
Min G Force:
Highest Hill:
Lowest Hill: / Tallest Loop:
Smallest Loops / Max G Force:
Min G Force:

Based on this research what are some features you want to include in your coaster and why? ______

Coaster Design:

Below draw a sketch of your coaster and where a person would experience G forces.

Day 3: Build/Test/Analyze

Build/Test

Using the following materials, take your design and create it using index cards, tape and straws.

After construction complete the table below.

Using three clay balls of different masses, detail how their coaster rides went (think of things like time on the coaster, ease going up or down hills, how fast it went in certain parts.

Coaster Cars / Details of the Ride
Ball 1
Mass: ______
Ball 2
Mass: ______
Ball 3
Mass: ______

Analyze:

Did the mass impact how the ball traveled on the coaster? Explain how. ______

What would you change about your coaster to change the ride? Would you add higher hills, lower loops? ______

Name______Date______Block______

Roller Coaster Written Assessment

Progressing / Accomplished
Student describes how mass and distance impact how gravity affects an object.
  • Two examples that are not roller coaster related

Student describes how the object moved through the coaster using the terms of kinetic and potential energy
Student details how the G-Forces on their coaster would impact an individual while riding.

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