Paper Roller Coaster Lab
OBJECTIVE: Using the principles of potential and kinetic energy, the students should be able to construct the roller coaster. The potential energy at the top of the roller coaster will be enough to move the nut through all the loops and hills.
PROBLEM: Can I construct a roller coaster that will work?
RESEARCH:Write two paragraphs about potential and kinetic energy (one paragraph each)
QUESTION: What will you have to do to make your roller coaster car complete the circuit?
MATERIALS:
Newspaper or Poster Board (to construct the track).
Marble (rollercoaster car)
Double sided tape (act as friction to oppose the cars velocity)
Scotch tape / Masking tape
PROCEDURE:
Rules: 1. There must be at least one loop on the track.
2. There must be al least two hills after the last loop.
3. Every hill must be higher than the one that comes after it.
4. The loop must be lower than the hill that comes before it.
1. Day 1: Design and sketch your roller coaster. Follow the rules and use the materials provided. Keep in mind what you learned from your research about kinetic and potential energy. Give your coaster a unique name. Don’t forget to label the changes between Potential and Kinetic Energies.
2. Day 2: When you think your design will work, construct a model. The model must be able to stand by itself. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO HOLD UP THE COASTER.
3. Tape one end of the track to the floor (hard floor, not carpet). Your “car” must SAFELY travel to the end of the track. If it doesn’t, redesign your roller coaster and try your new design.
DATA:
*You will hand in your paper design. If your design didn’t work the first time, include all the different designs that you used.
*On your final paper design, label what the potential and kinetic energy is doing as the marble travels to the end of your ride.
*Predict what roller coasters of the future will be like. Tell what role friction plays in your current roller coaster design.
CONCLUSION: (4 sentences) (8 points)
This is not optional. You must explain how and why you came up with your coaster design. You must also write about what you learned by doing this activity.
Remember that you must answer the question you asked in your original problem statement.