Academy Curricular Exchange
Columbia Education Center
Science

TITLE:    ROLLER COASTERS IN THE CLASSROOM

AUTHOR:   Michael Kneese, Snake River Junior High,
          Blackfoot, Idaho

OVERVIEW:  Many of the principles of kinetic and potential
energy can be experienced by students in the classroom.
Construction of a model roller coaster enables better
understanding of these basic physical laws.  With certain
variations, students can become more aware of acceleration
and momentum.

OBJECTIVE(s)
1.  The students shall be able to accurately define
    potential and kinetic energy.
2.  The students will explain the relationship of height
    to potential energy and the resulting  kinetic
    energy.
3.  The students will know and understand the effects of
    weight and speed on momentum.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
12 feet of clear 1/4 inch vinyl tubing
3-4 BB's
a yard stick for measuring

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students.  Each group
will have the materials listed above.  Assign the groups to
design a roller coaster with the first hill at a height of 4
feet and two more hills following.  The group that is able
to design a roller coaster with the most total inches in the
height of the three hills wins the class contest.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:  As the students work together they
can try to put side motion to the tubing to develop more
speed in the BB.  As the height and angles of the roller
coaster are changed the groups will understand the effects
each design change has on the BB.  This is a good activity
for 45 to 60 minutes. If possible, find other materials of
greater and less density than a BB to test the changes in a
lighter or heavier vehicle on the roller coaster.

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