bldcoast

Class Activity#5 Building a Roller Coaster

Using several activities involving a foam insulation tube, masking tape and a marble, students explore Newton's laws of motion, forces, and speed, etc. The final project is to build a roller coaster with at least one loop, one hill, one curve. The marble has to stop slowly at the end. (See the designs of student made coasters.)

Assignment for Feb. 10, 1998 Research on Roller Coasters

1.

Roller Coasters:
Frequently
Asked Questions

This site provides a database of information about roller coasters, including frequently-asked questions, coaster news, coaster definitions, design information, etc. This web page is organized around roller coaster themes - lists and statistics, books and magazines, images (which are excellent), links, etc. Use this page as a starting point for a Web search.

2.

Playland
Amusement
Park

Playland Amusement Park in California has developed an extensive web site to advertise some of the features of their park. An entire section of their site focuses on the history of roller coasters. It is good information and does include some physics concepts. For certain, this is a site worth visiting.

3.

How Things
Work

The author of the book "How Things Work" is now on-line with a helpful set of pages which utilize a Question-Answer format. The pages are organized according to topic - one of which is about roller coasters. The information is technical and very worthwhile. In addition to learning from already asked questions that others have posed, you might be able to ask him your own question and receive an answer; use an e-mail account from home to do so.

4.

World of
Coasters

This is the World's premier roller coaster site. It contains a wealth of information, including news, reviews, frequently-asked questions, statistics, histories, physical dimensions, design, time, speed,history of, builders, etc. Spend some time on this page and use it as a starting point of a Web search. The page is difficult to access due to its busy-ness - it might be most helpful to try it late at night or early in the morning.

5.

Watermania

Try this after you have explored all of the others.
Find out what special considerations are need for a water park.

6.

Coasters by
Ron Toomer

Ron Toomer is a very prominent roller coaster designers. This page lists his most popular roller coaster designs and provides links to information (and graphics) of his roller coasters.

7.

American
Coaster
Enthusiasts

The American Coaster Enthusiasts provides a Web site with general information, new coaster designs, and links to a variety of roller coaster sites. This site might make a useful starting point for surfing the Web. The page is also difficult to access due to its busy-ness - it might be most helpful to try it late at night or early in the morning.

8.

Roller coaster Links

Directory of roller coaster and amusement park links.

9.

Coasters.Net

This is a growing site designed by a roller coaster enthusiast. There are links to roller coasters around the world, lists of videos and books about roller coasters, and some worthwhile images. The site seems to be under construction and thus would be worth a periodic re-visit to see if there is new information.

10.

John a. Miller Roller Coaster Designer and Builder

Look at this one last.

Biography of a designer.

11.

Roller Coasters!!
The Most Terrifying Coaster Ever

This site has several articles about coasters, the most terrifying, the least terrifying, and more!

12.

Classes of Levers

Bill Nye the Science Guy's NYE LABS ONLINE

Bill Nye Web Search

Physics of Roller Coaster sites.

13.

Roller Coaster Lab

The Rollercoaster Lab is a physics lesson and lab that Darice McIntosh's students have successfully completed to learn the difference between Kinetic and Potential Energy. The students also used this opportunity to demonstrate Cause and Effect in Scientific Method. (submitted by Kim W.)

14.

Animated rides

submitted by James F. and Josh S.

http://www.sixflags.com/av/colospov.avi

http://www.sixflags.com/av/viper.avi

15.

Physics of the Loop of a Roller Coaster

Roller Coaster G Forces

Dynamics of Looping the Loop

Clothoid Loop submitted by Nicola M.

Cornu Spiral submitted by Jamie E.

16.

InCoasterPćdia

The Internet Roller Coaster Encyclopćdia

Assignment for Feb. 10, 1998 Research on Roller Coasters

Use the sites below to discover science of the roller coaster.

Find information about how a roller coaster works (the physics of), how it is designed, what it looks like (description), the physiological effects on passengers, history of coasters, etc.
Which one is the fastest, highest, longest, most expensive?
Make sure that you include the Name, Location and Designer of each specific coaster you find.
Why isn't there a roller coaster a mile high?
Keep in mind your Amusement Park worksheets. You might find information for those also.

Work as a team. Each one of you pick a different topic and different site to research. All team members will turn in information at the end of this class period.

Team grade:

F No work turned in
D One or two students turn in no work.
C All team members make an effort but little information turned in.
B Every team member turns in at least one full page of information, clearly answering the above questions.
A WOW! Factor. You went over and above what I asked you to do. Found answers to additional questions.: Some creativity involved. Also added some of your own thoughts or ideas to project. (You must indicate the WOW! Factor on your paper.) I will compare teams to see which team has the most information.

Points will be deducted if student conversations are not about science or students are talking with other teams.

Individual Points:: For homework, review these sites or an encyclopedia or other source. Write additional summaries or explanations of Science of the Roller Coaster and turn in Wednesday AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS. Addtional points will be added to individual grade.

Try these. Some did not work the last time I tried them.

1.

Roller
Coasters

This page lists an incredible number of links to roller coaster information. Most of the links lead to pages which are void of technical information.. Yet most of the links lead to pages with excellent graphics. Perhaps you can download some of the graphics for use on your oral presentation.

2.

Smart
Projects

A group of teachers in Rhode Island have designed a variety of high school projects, one of which centers around the physics of roller coasters. The objectives of their project is similar to our own; on this page, you will find a list of suggested activities and some useful links.

1.	Roller Coasters: Frequently Asked Questions	This site provides a database of information about roller coasters, including frequently-asked questions, coaster news, coaster definitions, design information, etc. This web page is organized around roller coaster themes - lists and statistics, books and magazines, images (which are excellent), links, etc. Use this page as a starting point for a Web search.
2.	Playland Amusement Park	Playland Amusement Park in California has developed an extensive web site to advertise some of the features of their park. An entire section of their site focuses on the history of roller coasters. It is good information and does include some physics concepts. For certain, this is a site worth visiting.
3.	How Things Work	The author of the book "How Things Work" is now on-line with a helpful set of pages which utilize a Question-Answer format. The pages are organized according to topic - one of which is about roller coasters. The information is technical and very worthwhile. In addition to learning from already asked questions that others have posed, you might be able to ask him your own question and receive an answer; use an e-mail account from home to do so.
4.	World of Coasters	This is the World's premier roller coaster site. It contains a wealth of information, including news, reviews, frequently-asked questions, statistics, histories, physical dimensions, design, time, speed,history of, builders, etc. Spend some time on this page and use it as a starting point of a Web search. The page is difficult to access due to its busy-ness - it might be most helpful to try it late at night or early in the morning.
5.	Watermania	Try this after you have explored all of the others. Find out what special considerations are need for a water park.
6.	Coasters by Ron Toomer	Ron Toomer is a very prominent roller coaster designers. This page lists his most popular roller coaster designs and provides links to information (and graphics) of his roller coasters.
7.	American Coaster Enthusiasts	The American Coaster Enthusiasts provides a Web site with general information, new coaster designs, and links to a variety of roller coaster sites. This site might make a useful starting point for surfing the Web. The page is also difficult to access due to its busy-ness - it might be most helpful to try it late at night or early in the morning.
8.	Roller coaster Links	Directory of roller coaster and amusement park links.
9.	Coasters.Net	This is a growing site designed by a roller coaster enthusiast. There are links to roller coasters around the world, lists of videos and books about roller coasters, and some worthwhile images. The site seems to be under construction and thus would be worth a periodic re-visit to see if there is new information.
10.	John a. Miller Roller Coaster Designer and Builder	Look at this one last. Biography of a designer.
11.	Roller Coasters!! The Most Terrifying Coaster Ever	This site has several articles about coasters, the most terrifying, the least terrifying, and more!
12.	Classes of Levers Bill Nye the Science Guy's NYE LABS ONLINE Bill Nye Web Search	Physics of Roller Coaster sites.
13.	Roller Coaster Lab	The Rollercoaster Lab is a physics lesson and lab that Darice McIntosh's students have successfully completed to learn the difference between Kinetic and Potential Energy. The students also used this opportunity to demonstrate Cause and Effect in Scientific Method. (submitted by Kim W.)
14.	Animated rides submitted by James F. and Josh S.	http://www.sixflags.com/av/colospov.avi http://www.sixflags.com/av/viper.avi
15.	Physics of the Loop of a Roller Coaster	Roller Coaster G Forces Dynamics of Looping the Loop Clothoid Loop submitted by Nicola M. Cornu Spiral submitted by Jamie E.
16.	InCoasterPćdia	The Internet Roller Coaster Encyclopćdia

		Try these. Some did not work the last time I tried them.
1.	Roller Coasters	This page lists an incredible number of links to roller coaster information. Most of the links lead to pages which are void of technical information.. Yet most of the links lead to pages with excellent graphics. Perhaps you can download some of the graphics for use on your oral presentation.
2.	Smart Projects	A group of teachers in Rhode Island have designed a variety of high school projects, one of which centers around the physics of roller coasters. The objectives of their project is similar to our own; on this page, you will find a list of suggested activities and some useful links.