AP PHYSICS
ROLLER COASTER PROJECT
OBJECTIVE: You and your team will design and construct a working roller coaster that will transport a marble or steel ball along the track.
MATERIALS: Paper (card stock or note cards are acceptable)
Straws
Craft Sticks / Wooden Splints
Paper Clips / Rubber Bands
Tape / Glue
DESIGN CRITERIA
1. Each roller coaster should include four design elements:
· a camelback
· a loop
· a wide turn
· a funnel / cork screw
Note: You only receive credit for the design elements your marble or steel ball completes on the “best” run.
2. Your coaster must be stable. You can attach it to a base board for transportation and set up purposes.
3. The marble must stay on the track through the whole roller coaster. You will be allowed three attempts to keep the marble on the coaster.
4. The track cannot be covered on the design elements.
5. Once launched, the marble or coaster cannot be touched until the marble completes its run.
6. The marble must complete the run and stop within in 50 cm (horizontally or vertically) from the starting point. If you can get the marble to make a complete circuit (i.e. return to its starting point), you receive 10 bonus points.
7. Complete the Design Information Sheet including a neat sketch of roller coaster.
PROJECT EVALUATION
Completed Roller Coaster: 40 Points
Design Elements: 35 Total Points
Camel Back: (10)
Loop: (10)
Wide Turn: (5)
Cork Screw: (10)
Does the marble stay on the track?: 5 Points
Design Information Sheet: 15 Points
Where Does Marble Finish?: 5 Points (within 10 cm)
10 Points (back to stating point)
AP PHYSICS NAME(S): ______
______
______
ROLLER COASTER DESIGN INFORMATION SHEET
Name of Coaster: ______
Measurements/Calculations:
Height First Hill : ______m
Height of Inverted Loop: ______mRadius of Loop: ______m
Average time for reaching the bottom of first hill: ______s (from top to bottom)
Calculation of speed at bottom of the hill:
Statement of coaster’s use of conservation of energy.
Neat Sketch of Roller Coaster