Roller Coaster

Grade Level: STS 11

 Introduction
The goal of this project is to build a roller coaster
track for marbles, and see how much of the
marble's potential energy at the beginning of the
track is converted to kinetic energy at various
points along the track.

The roller coaster is a great example of

conversions between potential energy (stored
energy) and kinetic energy (the energy of motion).
As the cars are being pulled up to the top of the
first hill, they are acquiring potential energy. At the
top of the hill, the cars' potential energy is at it's
maximum. When the cars start down the other
side, this potential energy is converted to kinetic
energy. The cars pick up speed as they go downhill.
As the cars go through the next uphill section, they
slow down.
 Probing Questions

What is the equation for calculating an object's

gravitational potential energy?
What is the equation for calculating an object's
kinetic energy?
The marble has its maximum gravitational
potential energy when it is at the starting point:
the highest point on the roller coaster. How
much of this potential energy is converted to the
marble's kinetic energy?
Does the marble's kinetic energy ever equal or
exceed its initial gravitational potential energy?
 The Challenge
You are required to submit a roller coaster design
that can be used in an amusement park. Using the
concepts of forces, motion, and energy, design
and build a model of a workable roller coaster.
Your roller coaster must have a “thrill factor” and
must have at least one loop, one turn, and if
possible, a “jump.”
Your roller coaster also needs to be safe for the
public, so you will also need to calculate the
speed, acceleration, PE and KE on various
locations of your roller coaster. You will use your
knowledge of how forces, motion and energy
helps your roller coaster work, why it is safe to
ride, and why it is “thrilling.”
 Suggested Material
You can use the following materials and
equipment:

 At least two 6 foot (183 cm) sections of 1-1/2 in

(about 4 cm) diameter foam pipe insulation
 Glass marbles
 Utility knife
 Masking tape
 Tape measure
 High support for roller coaster starting point
 Stopwatch
 Scale for weighing marble
 Video camera and tripod
 Label your Roller Coaster
Label the following points on your roller coaster:
 Position of highest potential energy
 Position of lowest potential energy
 Position of highest kinetic energy
 Position of lowest kinetic energy
 Position of positive acceleration
 Position of negative acceleration
 Two forces that might slow your marble down.

Extra Resources
You may find the following resources useful for your
project:
Theory,
Animation,
Video 2,
Video 3
 Measurement of velocity
In order to measure the velocity of the marble, you'll
need to measure how much distance the marble
travels during a measured time interval.

A good way to do this is to interrupt the foam track

and direct the marble along a smooth, level surface
(e.g., two long pieces of smooth wood glued in a V-
shape). Paint the wood with 5 or 10 cm long stripes
in contrasting colors (e.g., red and white or black and
white) so that you can use it to measure distances.
Use the stopwatch to measure the time it takes for
the marble to travel a certain length along the track.
 Measurements and Calculations

 Height of the starting point for the track.

 Mass of the marble.

 Gravitational potential energy of the marble at

the starting point.

 Average velocity of the marble as it completes

the track.

 Kinetic energy of the marble.

 Does the marble's kinetic energy ever equal or

exceed its initial gravitational potential energy?
 Engineering Design/ Art
An integral part of the creative design process is
ideation, the generation of concepts or ideas to solve
a design problem. Often freehand sketching can be
used to explore and communicate mental concepts
that come about in the mind’s eye. The final
prototype should meet the requirement the final
design should be rigid and safe.
 Prototype
Use your analyses to choose the design that best
meets criteria considering the constraints, and then
build a prototype. A prototype is the first full scale
and usually functional form of a new type or design.
In the development phase, everything that will be
needed to implement the project is arranged, first
you have to draw free hand sketch for your prototype
use the skills you learned. Then prepare the
measuring, hand tools and the material you need to
make the prototype.
 Subject Specifications
Physics:
You need to review and research the topics of
forces and energy. You need to know how to
calculate the max height, the stored potential
energy and kinetic energy after the roller is
lunched. You will use these rules and
mathematical values to enhance your design
and make it efficient and fast. You also need to
consider the initial heights of the roller coaster.
Please add these to your presentation as
calculation (math).

Math:
You need to research the calculations required
to solve a linear equation, a quadratic equation
and a polynomial equation. You need to
calculate the max height, the stored potential
energy and kinetic energy after the roller coaster
is lunched
Business communication:
You will produce a presentation to be given to
the rest of your class to show how you developed
your coaster, using the following methods:
Verbal In writing non-verbal Presentations can be
given as a group as long as each member
contributes equally. You will be marked on YOUR
individual performance.

English/ Biology:
Research different methods of creating an
electronic brochure. Produce a brochure to
advertise for your roller coaster. You will include
information about the features of your roller
coaster and a description of how it is unique.
Compare your roller coaster to another one in
the world and show how yours is a better one.
Include in the brochure health restrictions to
people who can use the roller coaster.
 Output/ Product

 A working prototype that meets the

requirements
 A report that contains the following parts:
 Physics
 Mathematical calculations
 Creative design/Art
 A Brochure
 Business Presentation
 Arabic part
 Rubric- Prototype/ Creative Design

Criteria 5 4 3 2 1
Prototype The roller The roller The roller The roller The roller
coaster looks coaster mostly coaster coaster coaster is
extremely looks good somewhat somewhat untidy. It
good, neat and and good and good and has no
it decorated. It decorated. It decorated. It decorated. It loops and
has at least 2 has at least 1 has at least no has no loops no hills. It
loops and 2 loops and 1 loops and 1 and 1 hill. It has no
hills. It has hill. It has hill. It has few has few turns. turns. it is
plenty of turns. some turns. it turns. it is it is not open not open in
it is open for all is open for all open for all in most of the most of the
parts of the parts of the parts of the part. part.
loop to increase loop to loop to
the thrill. The increase the increase the
design is unique thrill. thrill.
Creative Excellent Excellent Good freehand freehand Poor
Design/Ar freehand sketch freehand sketch design sketch design freehand
t design and final sketch design and final have some sketch
project is and final project is in mistakes and design and
meeting the project is general good final project is the final
expectations meeting the not meeting project is
expectations the not finished
expectations
 Rubric
Criteria 5 4 3 2 1
Physics All energies Most energies Some energies No energies No energy
marked on the marked on the marked on the marked on indicated
model model model the model. on the
correctly. All correctly. Most correctly. Few formulas model.
Measurement calculations Some used for No
and complete. calculations calculations. formulas
calculations Most of the complete. used for
complete and formulas Some formulas calculations
accurate. appropriate. used.
Appropriate Calculations Calculations
formulas used. show final KE show final KE
Show that the less than the less than the
final KE is less initial PE. initial PE.
than the initial
GPE.
Maths Calculations Calculations Calculations Calculations Calculations
reflect a reflect a reflect reflect a poor reflect no
mastery proper acceptable understandin understandi
understanding understanding understanding g of needed ng needed
of needed of needed of needed equations equations
equations equations equations (linear, (linear,
(linear, (linear, (linear, quadratic, quadratic,
quadratic, quadratic, quadratic, polynomial, polynomial,
polynomial, polynomial, polynomial, etc.). Major etc.).
etc.). All etc.). Few etc.). Several errors exist Calculations
calculations are errors exist errors exist in in are
accurate and calculations. calculation. calculation. irrelevant
no mistakes. and full of
errors.
 Rubric-Business
Business 5-Student 4-Student 3-Information 2-Audience has 1-Audience
Communication: presents presents generally difficulty cannot
verbal information in information in presented well following understand
logical, logical sequence and logically. presentation presentation
sequence which audience Voice is clear. Voice is low. because there is
which audience can follow Student Student no sequence of
can follow and Overall, uses a pronounces incorrectly information.
uses a clear clear voice so most words pronounces Student mumbles,
voice so that all that all audience correctly. Most terms. Audience incorrectly
audience members can audience members have pronounces
members can hear members can difficulty hearing terms, and speaks
hear presentation. hear. presentation. too quietly for
presentation. students in the
back of class to
hear.
Business Makes virtually Proofreads well Writes Makes Makes repeated
Communication: no grammatical enough to generally disruptive severe
written or syntactical eliminate most correct prose; grammatical/syn grammatical or
errors. grammatical occasionally tactical errors. (5 syntactical errors.
Establishes errors; may have fails to catch errors) Fails to catch
credibility with minor problems minor spelling errors. (6
audience. (1 or with punctuation grammatical or more errors)
no error) usage; no pattern errors. (4
of errors. (2 or 3 errors)
errors)
Business Student Student Student Student All of report read
Communication: maintains eye maintains eye maintains eye occasionally uses with no eye
nonverbal contact with contact with contact most eye contact, but contact.
audience, audience, of the time but still reads most No use of visual
seldom occasionally frequently of report. aids to enhance
returning to returning to returns to Some use of presentation.
notes. notes. notes. visual aids but
Visual aids Visual aids Visual aids could have
effective and somewhat are adequate been used
used effective and to enhance better to
throughout to used throughout presentation. enhance
enhance to enhance presentation.
presentation presentation.
Rubric- English
 ‫اللغة العربية‬
‫‪ 1 -‬بحث يتضمن‪:‬‬
‫أ‪ -‬فكرة المشروع واستيعابها‪.‬‬
‫ب‪ -‬خطوات اإلعداد‪.‬‬
‫ت‪ -‬نبذة عن المشروع‪.‬‬
‫ث‪ -‬الصعوبات التي واجهت اإلعداد وكيف تم التغلب‬
‫عليها‪.‬‬
‫باللغة العربية‬ ‫ج‪ -‬تسجيل صوتي لتلك النبذ‬
‫الفصيحة‪.‬‬ ‫ة‬
‫ح‪ -‬عرض تقديمي من المجموعة أمام الطالب ويناقش في الصف‪.‬‬
‫‪ 2 -‬تقييم المشروع‪:‬‬
‫يتم تقييم المشروع من المعلمين في كل‬
‫معهد‪:‬‬
‫‪ 3 -‬المعايير‪:‬‬
‫‪ 1 -‬االعتماد على جهد‬
‫الطالب‪.‬‬
‫وت اربطها وتسلسلها‪.‬‬ ‫‪ 2-‬صلة البحث‬
‫بالمشروع‪ 3 - .‬صحة األفكار‬
‫المطروحة وعمقها‬
‫‪ 4 -‬الم ارجع والمصادر‪.‬‬
‫‪ 4 -‬التقييم‪:‬‬
‫‪ 1 -‬الفكرة‪3 :‬درجات‪.‬‬
‫‪ 2 -‬الخطوات‪ 2 :‬درجات‪.‬‬
‫‪ 3 -‬النبذة‪ 3 :‬درجات‪.‬‬
‫‪ 4 -‬الصعوبات وحلها‪3 :‬‬
‫درجات‪.‬‬
‫‪ 5 -‬العرض التقديمي ‪ 3‬درجات‬
‫‪:‬‬
‫‪ 6 -‬التسجيل الصوتي‪ 6 :‬درجات‪.‬‬
Mark Allocation