Slope of a Roller Coaster

Slope of a Roller Coaster Task

Through this unit you have seen roller coasters and how they change
their slopes in order to create the most enjoyable and thrilling ride for
its riders. In this task you will be asked to create a roller coaster
design which is both realistic and exciting to the general public. You
will need to do the following,
1. Draw two full lengths of a roller coaster ride with only straight
edges.
2. The end of the first level must be the start of the second level.
3. Each section will be given a letter which you will then calculate
the slope.
4. Your roller coaster must have both positive and negative slopes.
5. Your roller coaster must have a section which has a slope of
zero.
6. Your roller coaster must also have a section which has a slope
which is undefined.
7. Your roller coaster must have no less than 8 sections.
8. Calculate the slopes of all the sections of your roller coaster.
9. Identify which section has the steepest slope on the roller
coaster.
10.
After you have calculated all of the slopes, choose 3 of your
positive or negative slopes and calculate its angle of elevation
and its grade. (Both undefined and zero slopes are not
permitted to complete this section).
11.
BONUS: if you want to add loops add them. But they do
not count towards your 8 sloped sections.
12.
BONUS: a fun horizontal section can be a corkscrew
section.
Your task must be submitted to the teacher with all of the above
requirements
Criteria
Drew two full lengths
The end of the first began the
second
Labeled each section with a

Requirement
Weight
/2
/1
/2

Comments

new letter
Has both positive and
negatives slopes
Has a section with slope = 0
Has a section with undefined
slope
There are at least 8 sections
in the sequence
Calculated slopes for each
section
Correctly identified the
section of the coaster which
is the steepest
Calculated the angle of
elevation and grade of 3
sections (with restrictions)

/1
/2
/4
/8

/1

/6
/27

My Roller Coaster:

Sectio
n
A

F
G

+ Undef. 0
Slope

Actual Slope

Angle of
Elevatio
n

Grade

Which section of your roller coaster is the steepest: ________________

If you had to think about creating your roller coaster, think about and
answer the following.
1. What would you name the roller coaster?
2. How tall would you need to be to ride this roller coaster?
3. What warning would you give riders before they ride?
4. At what section would you place a camera in order to have the
most entertaining photos taken of the riders?
5. What section would you be going the slowest?
6. What section would you be going the quickest? What do you
think this speed could be?

B
C
A

D
E