Building a Roller Coaster

Students explain how mechanical energy is conserved in falling objects. In this physics instructional activity, students design and construct a roller coaster based on given requirements. They draw and explain their model.

Emerging engineers work in teams to design pipe insulation roller coasters for marbles that meet specific parameters. They are required to label along the track the areas where kinetic and potential energy are highest and lowest, where...

Raise the energy level of your physical science class with this exciting hands-on activity. Applying their knowledge of kinetic and potential energy and Newton's laws of motion, young engineers use foam tubing and marbles to create...

Ron Toomer, a famous roller coaster designer, suffered from motion sickness. Pupils design their own roller coasters, learning about potential and kinetic energy in the process. Labs focus on the importance of drop height, energy...

Ninth graders demonstrate the difference between potential and kinetic energy. In this inquiry based physics lesson, 9th graders design and build a model of a roller coaster using foam tubing to show how mass and height affect the...

Young scholars investigate how roller coasters are built. In this physics lesson, students research the laws of physics that affect roller coaster construction. Young scholars create their own roller coaster design.

Learners read an article, brainstorm ideas and prepare journals investigating why people enjoy 'thrill' rides, what forces affect the body on these rides and how they can become dangerous.

Students explore a computer-aided design program. Students chart out roller coaster design, computer graphics and architecture. Students focus on understanding the connections between mathematics, science, technology and innovation.

Roller coasters rely on both kinetic and potential energy, but how much total energy does a roller coaster need? Scholars vary the mass of a coaster and the height of the initial hill. Graphs showing the types of energy and total energy...

Learners study the physics used to design today's roller coasters.  In this engineering lesson students complete several activities including designing their own roller coaster.