Website
Other

Roller Coaster Database: Worldwide Roller Coaster Data

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a comprehensive research database with data on over 6,300 roller coasters all over the planet.
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Centripetal Force: Roller Coaster Loops

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment explains centripetal force and illustrates how roller coasters rely on it to give you a thrilling ride. Includes background reading material and discussion questions. [4:40]
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Roller Coaster Marbles: How Much Height to Loop the Loop?

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: The Chills and Thrills of Roller Coaster Hills

For Students 6th - 8th
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...
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Energy in a Roller Coaster Ride

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive roller coaster ride produced for Teacher's Domain illustrates the relationship between potential and kinetic energy. As the coaster cars go up and down the hills and around the loop of the track, a pie chart shows...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Roller Coaster

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the conservation of energy in the context of a roller coaster.
Lesson Plan
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Paper Roller Coasters: Kinetic and Potential Energy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this instructional activity, your students will learn about kinetic and potential energy as they build their own roller coasters from simple classroom materials.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Are Roller Coasters Safe?

For Teachers 3rd
[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.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Physics of Roller Coasters

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the physics utilized by engineers in designing today's roller coasters, including potential and kinetic energy, friction, and gravity. First, students learn that all true roller coasters are completely driven by the...
Lesson Plan
NC State University

The Engineering Place: Roller Coasters [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A lesson where students construct a roller coaster and test it under different conditions to learn about force and motion.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Trb 3:4 Investigation 4 Roller Coaster Fun

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders will design and build a roller coaster to help understand gravity.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Roller Coaster Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Some prefer the front seat, some prefer the back seat and others prefer to not even board a roller coaster at the amusement park. What is the science that makes...
Interactive
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Circular and Satellite Motion: Roller Coaster Model

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive playground for students to explore the physics of roller coasters. Learners investigate by changing the variables of force, velocity, friction, and vectors. Energy bar charts are displayed as the coaster car moves along...
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: The Ultimate Roller Coaster Contest

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
Activity
Other

Hstry: Roller Coaster Design Brief Template

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive site by STEM teacher Mariana Garcia-Serrato in a lesson on physics in which students design, budget for and analyze their own roller coasters.
Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Design a Roller Coaster

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Handout
Other

Roller Coaster Database: Cedar Point: Raptor Roller Coaster

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the facts about the Raptor roller coaster, which cost $11.5 million to build in 1994.
Website
Other

Roller Coaster Database: Cedar Point: Gatekeeper Roller Coaster

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn the facts about the Gatekeeper roller coaster in Sandusky, Ohio. Includes information on the speed, height and materials used to create this popular ride.
Handout
Other

Roller Coaster Database: Cedar Point: Corkscrew

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about this roller coaster at Cedar Point, which takes riders through a double corkscrew configuration.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: California Screamin' Roller Coaster

For Students 9th - 10th
This popular Disney roller coaster is made out of steel. Learn more facts about this popular amusement park ride, the fastest at any Disney theme park.
Website
Other

Six Flags: Great Adventure: Green Lantern Roller Coaster

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn the facts about one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Circular, Satellite, Rotational: Roller Coaster G Forces

For Students 9th - 10th
Roller coaster rides are notorious for creating accelerations and g-forces. The magnitude and direction of normal force and gravity during the motion through a coaster's loop are depicted this animation.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Roller Coasters Affect Your Body

For Students 9th - 10th
Brian D. Avery investigates what roller coasters are doing to your body and how they've managed to get scarier and safer at the same time.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Building Roller Coasters

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this hands-on activity students learn about the laws of physics by creating a marble roller coaster.

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