Roller Coaster Lab

ROLLER COASTER LAB (3 Periods)

OBJECTIVE

· TO DESIGN AND CREATE A ROLLER COASTER THAT CAN BE USED TO ANALYZE THE ENERGY EXCHANGES INVOLVED IN SUCH A SYSTEM.

MATERIALS

· CHOICE OF MATERIALS IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE STUDENTS.
· ALL MATERIALS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF INSULATION TUBING, ARE TO BE PROVIDED BY THE STUDENTS.
· ALL CONSTRUCTION IS TO BE DONE INSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.
· NO PREFABRICATED PARTS MAY BE USED (i.e. HOTWHEELS TRACKS FOR WAL-MART).

INSTRUCTIONS

· EACH STUDENT WILL RESEARCH COASTER DESIGNS FROM LITERATURE OR ACTUAL STRUCTURES NOTING BRACING POINTS AND REINFORCEMENTS AND HOW EACH DESIGN TAKES INTO ACCOUNT GRAVITATIONAL AND LOAD FORCES AND THE MATERIALS USED.
· EACH GROUP OF STUDENTS WILL THEN DESIGN AND BUILD A ROLLER COASTER
· STUDENTS WILL KEEP DAILY JOURNALS REGARDING RESEARCH, RESULTS, CHANGES, AND THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
· EACH JOURNAL WILL INCLUDE A PRELIMINARY AS WELL AS COMPLETED SKETCH OR DRAWING.

SPECIFICATIONS
· THE COASTER MUST BE FREE STANDING AND ATTACHED TO A BASE.
· THERE IS NO WEIGHT LIMIT FOR THE COASTER BUT IT MUST BE PORTABLE.
· THE TRACK MUST INCLUDE TWO LOOPS AND TWO (UP)HILLS
· EXTRA POINTS WILL BE GIVEN FOR ADDITIONAL LOOPS/HILLS
· ANY DESIGN CAN BE USED AS LONG AS THE ROADBED IS FLAT AND UNOBSTRUCTED TO ALLOW A MATCHBOX CAR AND GOLF BALL TO TRAVEL ITS LENGTH.

PROCEDURE

· EACH COASTER MUST FIRST ALLOW A MATCHBOX CAR,GOLF BALL OR MARBLE TO TRAVERSE THE ENTIRE TRACK SAFELY
· A FRESH EGG WILL BE PLACED AT THE END OF EACH TRACK WHEN TESTED.
· THE OBJECT IS TO COMPLETE THE TRACK WITHOUT FLIPPING UPSIDE DOWN AND SLOW DOWN ENOUGH NOT TO CRACK A FRESH EGG WAITING AT THE END.

LAB QUESTIONS
1. Calculate the Potential Energy of your first drop, use this equation: PE = mass x height marble was dropped from x gravity

Calculate the Potential Energy the marble was given at the start of the ride by first finding the mass of the marble with the electronic scale. Next measure the height of the first hill. Finally plug the numbers in the equation and multiply.


2. To find the average kinetic energy first drop: Use this equation; Ke = ½ mv2 ;

To find the velocity of the system use V = distance / time. To find the distance, measure the length of the track from where you dropped the marble to the floor. Then measure the time it takes for the marble from the drop to the floor. Divide distance by the time and record the velocity.

Now plug in your velocity and mass into the KE equation above and find your kinetic energy.


3. In an isolated system, the Kinetic energy and the Potential energy should be equal. Are your energies equal? Why do you think they are not equal. If energy cannot be created or destroyed, where is the energy going?


4. Subtract your Potential energy from your kinetic energy to find out how much energy is lost.


5. Include a sketch of your roller coaster. Label on your roller coaster the point with the lowest Kinetic Energy and the point with the lowest Potential energy. Also show the point with the highest Kinetic Energy and the highest Potential Energy.


DAY 1:
IN THE LIBRARY
Start with the website:
http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/
http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/coaster/

Then research using additional websites, such as
http://science.howstuffworks.com/roller-coaster.htm
http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Pav/Science/Physics/book/simplecoaster/home.html


DAYS 2-3:
IN CLASS, BUILDING THE COASTERS