ROLLER COASTER PROJECT

Purpose/Objective:
To learn the physics behind roller coasters.
To build a roller coaster for marbles using foam pipe insulation
and other materials.
The design of your teams coaster will demonstrate that you
understand forces, motion, and energy scientific concepts.
To calculate some of the scientific concepts.
Scenario:
You have graduated from college with a degree in engineering.
Busch Gardens is searching to hire an engineer to design a new roller
coaster for one of their theme parks. The coaster must meet a few
specific requirements (see requirements below). Build a model roller
coaster and a sales pitch to be selected for the job.
Parts of the Project:
1. Background research paper
2. Presentation (sales pitch)
3. Design a roller coaster that meets all criteria
4. Blueprint (Complete drawing-graph paper or computer- of the
coaster)
5. Testing coaster/Collecting and calculating data
6. Analyzing the data
7. Communicating the results in a written lab report
Graded Portions of Project:
Individual grades
a. Research- classwork
b. Background research paper- test
c. Analyzing data/communicating results in a lab report- lab
Team grades
a. Roller coaster design that meets all criteria- lab
b. Sales pitch/presentation- test
c. Daily reports- classwork

Provided Materials:
Foam pipe insulation (2)
Tape
Marble
Meter stick
Stopwatch
o You may bring in other materials (with permission), but it is
not a requirement
Roller Coaster Requirements:
Safety first!
o The marble cannot fall off the track
o The marble cannot hit a barrier to stop it
o The marble must stop without going off the track
It must contain at least 1 loop and 1 hill
o Optional: multiple loops/hills, curve/turns, corkscrew
The entire coaster must fit within a 3 x 5 space
The tallest height cannot exceed 5 feet.
The coaster must be complete within 2 days.
o On the 3rd day there will be a test run to see if your coaster
meets all of the requirements. You will be given 3 chances.
o You will also need to have your data collection completed
on the 3rd day.
Label Requirements for Blueprint of Roller Coaster: (should be
completed neatly on graph paper or the computer)
Name of ride/logo
Measurements:
o Length of track
o Heights of inclines/loops/hills
o Diameter of loops
Point of maximum potential energy
Point of greatest kinetic energy
Point of positive acceleration
Point of negative acceleration
Label hills, loops, corkscrews, and turns
Sales Pitch/Presentation
You may create a video, PowerPoint, Prezi, pamphlet, etc. to go
with your presentation
o Include blueprint
o Actual picture of model
o Include estimated cost of R.C. (required materials to build
it)

o Include average time of run, length of track, average

speed, velocity at the maximum KE location.
All group members must participate

Roller Coaster Background Research Paper

You will receive a grade for your paper in both Science and
English class.
You need to research the following information:
History of roller coasters
o Should have at least 5 facts
How roller coasters work (the physics behind it)
o Should have at least 5 facts
o I will be looking for a connection to class
material (ch. 11, 12, and 15)
Roller coaster safety
o Should have at least 5 facts
o It should be mechanical. This does not
include keeping hands/feet/etc. inside the
car, or being a certain height/age.
Information on at least 2 famous roller coasters
Guidelines for paper:
Have at least 3 different valid sources
o Wikipedia is not a valid source
o Your text book may count as a source
Paper must consist of 5 good paragraphs (5 or
more sentences each)
o 1st paragraph: introduction
o 2nd paragraph: history
o 3rd paragraph: physics (how it works)
o 4th paragraph: safety
o 5th paragraph: conclusion
o Incorporate 2 famous roller coasters within
one or more of the paragraphs.
A works cited page must be included

* TURNED IN TO TURNITIN.COM*
Final paper due: ________________________
Roller Coaster Research
List of sources:
1.
2.
3.
4. Additional sources

What 3 things have you learned about the physics of a roller

coaster?
a. __________________________________________________________________
_______________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
_______________________
c. __________________________________________________________________
_______________________

What is the name of a famous roller coaster?

What are 3 interesting facts about roller coasters?

a. __________________________________________________________________
______________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
______________________
c. __________________________________________________________________
______________________

ROLLER COASTER LAB REPORT

Name:
Group Members:
a.
b.

c.
d.

1. Purpose:

2. Materials:

3. Procedure: (specific steps taken to build your coaster)

Picture 1

4. Data:
Table 1

Mass of marble
Length of track
Height of starting point
Potential energy at the start
Force at start
Time of run (sec)

Trial 1

Trial 2

Average Speed of marble

Kinetic energy at the bottom
of the first drop
Velocity at KE point
5. Calculations:
a. Potential Energy at the start

b. Force at start

c. Average Speed of Marble (start to finish)

d. Kinetic Energy at the bottom of the first drop

e. Velocity of KE point

Trial 3

Avg.

6. Conclusion:
a. What was the most challenging thing that your team had
to overcome when constructing the roller coaster?

b. Why is it important for engineers to know how roller

coasters work?

c. What were the effects of gravity and friction on your roller

coaster?

d. How were Newtons Laws of Motion at work?

e. Summary- Include all of the following terms in your

summary when talking about your roller coaster and what
you learned: force, gravity, speed, friction, potential
energy, kinetic energy, and acceleration

GRADING RUBRIC
ROLLER COASTER LAB REPORT
Requirements
Materials list
Procedure
Picture/Drawing

Possible Points

Points Earned

5
20
5

Data Table

20

Calculations

20

Conclusion
Questions

10

Summary
Paragraph

20

Final Lab Report Grade __________

Roller Coaster Pre-sketch

Group Members
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Roller Coaster Name: _____________________________________

Draw a sketch of your roller coaster in the space below (be neat):
This is a rough draft (you are not locked in to this design).

#
#
#
#

of
of
of
of

Hills:
Loops:
Corkscrews:
Turns:

__________
__________
__________
__________

Place a 1 next to a point on your roller coaster where the cars

accelerate.

Place a 2 at a point on your roller coaster where the cars

decelerate.
Place a 3 next to the point where cars have the greatest
potential energy.
Place a 4 next to the point where cars have the greatest kinetic
energy.

Daily Report #1

Group Members

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
1. What problems did you encounter with your build today?

2. What, if any, changes have you made to the overall look of

your roller coaster from your original sketch?

3. Action plan for tomorrow

Daily Report #2
Group Members
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
1. What is the total length of your track now?

2. What problems did you encounter with your build today?

3. Is your coaster ready for tomorrow? If not, what last minute

changes need to be made/fixed?

4. How do you think your roller coaster will do tomorrow? Is

there anything you are worried about?

Daily Report #3
Group Members
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
1. How did the 3 test runs go? Explain.

2. Is there anything you wish you had changed? If so, what?

3. What 3 things did you like about this project?

4. What did you not like about this project? List any
recommendations if you have any.