ROLL-A-COASTER

Roller coaster design is a science, as well as an art: the designer must use knowledge of structural
stability and engineering skills to create an adrenaline pumping yet safe ride. Gone are the days of
steel and wooden rides so choose your material to make your experience. That's what makes the
next true coaster, the one that captures the imagination. Build the roller coaster you have always
dreamed of.

Roller Coaster Definition: Roller coasters are called "gravity rides" for a good reason: once the
coaster has been dragged to the top of the first hill and released, it is the force of gravity that keeps
the coaster going, all the way back to the station platform at the end of the ride. As the coaster goes
through its twists, turns, rolls and loops, it gains and loses its initial potential energy (supplied by
dragging it up the first hill). Energy changes from potential into kinetic energy and back into
potential energy. The roller coaster you will design is also a "gravity ride".

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Design and fabricate your dream roller coaster ride. An abstract (containing the detailed
design) needs to be submitted to the undersigned initially upon whose approval the actual
fabrication can begin.

RULES

Design Constraints

1. The base must fit within a square footprint that is 1000mm x 1000 mm. The overall
track must fit within a rectangular box 1000 mm x 1000 mm x 1250mm.
2. The model should be designed for a steel ball or glass marble. This means that the
steel ball or glass marble, when released from the top of the first hill by the judge, will
travel through the entire ride and arrive at the bottom loading platform. (Note: for this
contest, you will raise the steel ball or glass marble by hand from the loading platform
to the top of the first hill to start the "ride").
3. A ball must be provided by the team, so that it can be tested on the judging day. The
ball must either be a glass marble of regular size, or a steel ball that is 10 mm
diameter.
4. The roller coaster must have a minimum of 1 horizontal 360 degree loop and 1
vertical 360 degree loop.

Materials to be used

1. The primary construction material may be wood.

2. Other suggested materials include wire, string, twine, doweling, toothpicks, pipe,
cardboard, construction paper, popsicle sticks, glue and other cheap, easily available
materials.
3. Commercially available roller coaster kits will be disqualified.
4. Magnets, electricity, springs and other forms of energy may not be used - this is a
"gravity ride" only.
5. Other innovative materials may be used.
Judging Criteria
The judging would include

1. Objective score
2. Creative score

Objective score
Objective score includes:

1. Time factor:
o Total time of travel starts when you leave the marble from top.
o One point will be awarded for every one second.
o The maximum time score allowed is 60 i.e. a run of 60 seconds :- if the time is
less than 60 seconds then the time score is the recorded time ; if the time is
between 60 and 75 seconds then the time score will be 60 (no penalty); if the
time is more than 75 seconds then the time score will be 60 MINUS the
(amount of time greater than 75 seconds) (for example if your time is 90
seconds then your time score will be 60 - (90 - 75) = 45).
2. Loop factor:
o For a loop to be considered a vertical loop, the angle of the loop with respect to
the vertical must be less than 15 degrees.
o The diameter of each of the vertical loops will be measured. For loops that are
not circular, diameter at the LARGEST spot will be recorded ( diameter of the
largest spot signifies the maximum distance between 2 points on the loop ). The
loop factor score will be equal to the diameter of circle.
o If the vertical loop is open (so that the steel ball or marble would fall out, if it
was moving too slowly) on the inner side, then the diameter that is measured
would be multiplied by 2. Example: A closed loop of 100 mm diameter will get
10 points where as an open one will be awarded 20 points.
o The subsequent vertical loops will be given half the points as given in the
previous loop for the same distance(ex. Second vertical loop of 50 mm will be
given 2.5 for closed and 5 for open)
o The loop with the largest diameter will be considered the 1st loop and so on
and so forth

o Each complete revolution of 360 degrees will count as one complete vertical
loop.
 3. Vertical fall factor:
o The longest vertical fall of the ride will be measured. This measurement would
be the vertical height and not the length of the track.
o The vertical fall must make an angle greater than 60 degree with the horizontal
o The points for the vertical fall would be -> fall in meters x 40. Example 300
mm fall will fetch 12 points

NOTE: Vertical fall factor comprises only the longest fall, and not all the falls.

4. In order to receive an objective score the steel ball or marble must complete the entire
"ride" in at least 1 out of 3 trials when tested by the judging team.
5. Total of the objective score will be the addition of the time factor + loop factor +
vertical fall factor.

Creative Score
Creative score includes:

1. Innovative engineering (15 points)

2. Innovative material use (10 points)
3. High g-force (5 points)
4. Unusual thrills (5 points)
5. Physical attractiveness and fabrication (5 points)
6. Explanation of the design and reasoning behind the use of materials, sequence of ride,
shape and structure (10 points)

The creative score would be given by judges and it will be subjective. Judges decision will be
held final.
The total score of the team will be the addition of the objective score and creative score.
The team with maximum total score wins.

General Rules

1. The teams must adhere to the spirit of healthy competition. The teams must not
damage the opponent's roller coaster in any way. Judges reserve the right to disqualify
any team indulging in misbehaviour.
2. Teams will be given time for the setup of their roller coaster. Any team that is not
ready after the specified time will be disqualified from the competition automatically.
3. Judges decision shall be treated as final and binding on all.
4. The organizers reserve all rights to change any or all of the above rules as they deem
fit. Change in any rule, if any, will be highlighted on the website.
Team Specifications
A team may consist of a maximum of 4 members.

Abstract Submission

1. The abstract should specify the use of material for construction and justify the use of
the same.
2. The design can be made on a sheet of any size but should clearly be showing what the
designer intends to fabricate.
3. For students from other colleges, they can send the scan of the drawing through mail.
4. The abstract can include any other specifications that the teams may deem fit to
inform the judges about. (including calculations for their design)
5. While sending the abstract, use roll-a-coaster as the subject.
6. The earlier you send the abstract, the earlier we can review the designs and suggest
any modifications that are necessary and you can also start making the coaster that
much earlier. So send the abstract as soon as you are ready with the same.
7. The abstract can be directly submitted to the below mentioned contacts or can be
mailed. For convenience sake if the abstract is sent by email please send a copy to
each of the email ids given below.
8. The particapants can use any means necessary to explain the design in the abstract.

Important dates
    Last date for submitting abstract (with full details) :15th September 2010

Contacts:

Chandra Shekhar L
Phone No. 8950611210
Email: vinay19891989@gmail.com
Room No. 469 Hostel No.8

Arun Kumar
Phone No. 9050340432
Email: arunnit123@gmail.com
Room No. 229 Hostel No. 8

Ranjeesh Rajan
Phone No. 9034839096
Email: ranjeeshrajan2007@gmail.com
Room No. 286 Hostel No. 8