Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Roller Coaster Marbles: How Much Height to Loop the Loop?
This is a really fun project even if you don't like going on roller coasters yourself. You'll build a roller coaster track for marbles using foam pipe insulation and masking tape, and see how much of an initial drop is required to get...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: The Chills and Thrills of Roller Coaster Hills
Lots of people enjoy roller coasters, but not many understand why they feel the strange excitement they do when riding them. In this science fair project, you will build and use an accelerometer to figure out and measure gravity-induced...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Paper Roller Coasters: Kinetic and Potential Energy
In this instructional activity, your students will learn about kinetic and potential energy as they build their own roller coasters from simple classroom materials.
Read Works
Read Works: Are Roller Coasters Safe?
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about scientists studying the safety of roller coasters. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Building Roller Coasters
In this hands-on activity students learn about the laws of physics by creating a marble roller coaster.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Trb 3:4 Investigation 4 Roller Coaster Fun
Third graders will design and build a roller coaster to help understand gravity.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: The Ultimate Roller Coaster Contest
Middle schoolers design and build a three hill "tennis ball" roller coaster made of cardboard. During the design and building process, students explore the concepts of potential and kinetic energy and how they change as the roller...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Design a Roller Coaster
An interactive lesson where students design and build their own virtual roller coaster. Choose the height of the hills. the shape of the hills. and loop to find out if you successfully used physics concepts to pass the safety and fun...
Other
Roller Coaster Database: Cedar Point: Raptor Roller Coaster
Find out about the facts about the Raptor roller coaster, which cost $11.5 million to build in 1994.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago: Activities: Build a Roller Coaster
Build the roller coaster, then keep making adjustments to see how it affects the potential and kinetic energy of the marble along its tracks.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Converting Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy
If you'd like to investigate the physics of amusement park rides, then this project is for you. You'll build a roller coaster track for marbles using foam pipe insulation and masking tape, and see how much the marble's potential energy...
Read Works
Read Works: Energy Screams
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about potential and kinetic energy on a roller coaster.. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Speed and Velocity
In this investigation, young scholars will work in groups to design a model roller coaster, which will be used to clock the fastest speed for the rider (ball bearing/marble) The groups will build roller coaster models and modify and...
Read Works
Read Works: Up to Speed
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the science behind roller coasters, including Kingda Ka, one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world. A question sheet is available to help students build...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Amusement Park Ride: Ups and Downs in Design
This unit has students design and build foam tubing roller coasters. The design process integrates energy concepts as they test and evaluate their designs that address the task as an engineer would. The goal is for students to understand...
ABCya
Ab Cya: Make a Treehouse
Design the treehouse of your dreams with ABCya's Make a Treehouse! Choose from tree types, wood varieties and more. Would you like to build a house in a rainbow eucalyptus tree? No problem! How about a roller coaster entrance, and a...