What’s the best part of an amusement park? 

While some might say cotton candy, churros, people-watching, or water rides, I want to believe the best part of an amusement park is the roller coaster! The bigger the better!!! That is, when I get over the fear to actually ride them (which has only happened a few times)

Why Roller Coasters? 

Because they’re awesome thrill-seeking, scream-provoking, vomit-inducing machines. Even though these rides feel dangerous, they’re actually very safe inventions designed to feel as if you’re breaking all rules of science. Are they breaking any rules? Of course not, physics plays a huge role in the design, motion, & fun of roller coasters.

Click here to watch “Build It Bigger: Kinetic Madness”.

What’s your Dream Roller Coaster? 

Close your eyes & picture the amazing ride that awaits you. How many turns do you have? Any loops? Any major free falls? Corkscrews? Now, find a picture online of your favorite coaster – or one that you’ve never been on before but want to try out someday. Save this picture… because in just a second, you’re going to add it to your Padlet.

Make a Padlet demonstrating your knowledge of the basic physics behind roller coasters, specifically motion, forces, and the transfer of energy.

What’s a Padlet?

Well, this is a Padlet. It’s "an internet application that allows people to express their thoughts on a common topic easily. It works like an online sheet of paper where people can put any content (e.g. images, videos, documents, text) anywhere on the page, together with anyone, from any device.…Think of it like a multimedia friendly, free-form, real-time wiki.”

In other words, it’s a web page that you can post notes, pictures, and video.

Padlets used to be called WallWisher.

Our Schedule…

-Monday: Research

-Tue/Wed: Research

-Wed/Thu: Marble Coaster Construction

-Friday: Finalize Padlet and submit Padlet website to Schoology

-Monday: Finalize Padlet and submit Padlet website to Schoology. Work on Physics study guide. Padlets will be graded sometime after this day.

-Tuesday: Padlets can be used to help you on the physics assessment...the better the Padlet you created, the better the tool you have to help you!

Goals

To learn about the physics of roller coasters.

To prepare you for the Physics test

To design a successful marble roller coaster using the laws of physics

To demonstrate your knowledge on a Padlet.

To show off the Padlets 

Research

-Work on your own

-Complete these pages, sequentially and slowly. TAKE YOUR TIME.

-Add to your Padlet when indicated.

Marble Coaster Construction

-Work in a group of 4 students.

-Make a marble coaster of 4 foam tubes and masking tape.

-Play around with the coaster to make the most interesting one possible in the time provided.

-Determine the speed and energy of the marble through your coaster.

-Take pictures and video (on your ipad) of your completed coaster to add to your Padlet.

1.  Go to padlet.com (open it up in a new tab)

2.  Click on “Login or Signup“

Click Signup to create an account.

Create a password that you will REMEMBER!

See your teacher if you do not have an email address

3.  Click on “Build a Wall“

4.  Click on “Modify Wall”

Title: create an interesting title

Wallpaper: choose something cool, you can change this anytime

Privacy: Hidden Link

Link, Can VIEW!!!!  Hit SUBMIT

SUBMIT Address: pick a new padlet.com address that includes your WHOLE NAME

a new padlet.com address that includes your WHOLE NAME

If your name is already taken,  try adding your middle initial

Why do you need to write your entire name?

This is how you will turn in & receive credit!!!

5.  You’ve made a wall, now get working!

Make sure you always work on the wall with your name URL

In other words, I will always work on padlet.com/wall/rosirollercoaster not http://padlet.com/wall/t2dwgd2x07

The best way to learn a Padlet is by playing around with it.

Double click to add stuff

You can add notes, pictures, websites etc.

It automatically saves everything

6.  LOGOUT of padlet whenever you’re done

Remember momentum? Remember acceleration? That’s what I thought. 

Look here for definitions on the following words:

Acceleration

Centripetal & Centrifugal Force

“g”

Momentum

Weightlessness

Add to your Padlet: Explain how each of these concepts are related to roller coasters. You must USE YOUR OWN WORDS and RELATE YOUR EXPLANATION TO ROLLER COASTERS

Add to your Padlet: What is friction? How does friction relate to the roller coasters?

• Check out the equations below.

• Add these equations to your padlet.

• Watch: Millenium Force Roller Coaster, Front Seat
• So, what do PE & KE have to do with roller coasters? Glad you asked! A TON, actually.
• Check this out (FLASH only)
• Add to your Padlet: How do KE & PE change throughout a roller coaster ride?

What does Wile E. Coyote have to do with Potential Energy? Check out this video.

Step E: History of Roller Coasters

• Ever wonder where roller coasters were first created? Were they primarily used for entertainment or some other need?
• Use google or the following sites to learn more:
  • Wikipedia “History of the roller coaster”
  • Roller Coaster Record Book
• Add to your Padlet: Briefly describe the history of roller coasters.

Step F: Roller Coaster Records

• Curious what the tallest coaster in the world is? The fastest? The largest drop?
• Watch: Kingda Ka Roller Coaster at Six Flags in New Jersey. It’s being tested so there are no passengers. Why do you think this happens?
• Watch: Here it is again, working this time, with a front row view.
• Check out these websites to find some coaster records:
  • Wikipedia’s List of roller coaster rankings
  • Roller Coaster Almanac – Record Holders
• Here are some theme parks famous for their coasters.
  • Six Flags Magic Mountain in California
  • Cedar Point in Ohio
  • King’s Island in Ohio
• Add to your Padlet: List some of the amazing roller coaster statistics.

Step G: Roller Coaster Elements

• We’re not talking about the periodic table here…
• A roller coaster element is part of the track, often a corkscrew or flip, something that makes some people want to puke.
• These are some roller coaster elements:
  • Batwing
  • Butterfly Inversion
  • Camelback
  • Cobra Roll
  • Corkscrew
  • Hammerhead Turn
  • Heartline Roll
  • Horseshoe
  • Immelmann Loop
  • Pretzel Loop
  • Raven Turn
  • Sea Serpent Roll
  • Top Hat
• What do these mean? Check out these sites to learn more about them
  • Wikipedia’s Roller Coaster Thrill Elements
  • Roller Coaster Database Glossary
• You’re going to try to make one or two with your marble coaster.
• Add to your Padlet: Pictures of some famous roller coaster elements. Label.

Step H: Roller Coaster Motion

• Watch: Time Warp Roller Coaster Science
• I bet you didn’t know that…
  • Roller coasters use an engine to power the coaster ONLY AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
• They’re dragged up to the top of the first hill, but from then on, no more external energy is added.
• You have to admit that’s pretty cool.
• But the big question, the question of the day, is… why? How does a roller coaster continue to move through the twists and turns of a track if it only uses an engine at the very beginning?
• Check out these sites to find the answer:
  • Energy Transformation on a Roller Coaster
  • Energy of a Roller Coaster
  • Watch: Energy Conservation on Roller Coasters
• Add to your Padlet: the answer to this major question…

• It’s time to start thinking about designing your coaster!
• What should all coasters start with? How do they typically finish? What similarities and differences do most coasters possess?
• Check out these games/simulations to practice building your own coasters.
  • BrainPOP’s Coaster Creator (FLASH)
  • Design a Roller Coaster - can you earn 2 thumbs up?
  • Build a Coaster (FLASH)
  • Roller Coaster Designer (FLASH)
  • PBS Fetch! Whoahler Coaster (FLASH)
• A roller coaster’s loop is a pretty big deal too, with a lot of physics involved.
• For example, they aren’t actually circular, but Clothoid, as shown below.

We will complete this part as a class ONLY on Wednesday (periods 1 & 2) or Thursday (periods 3-6). Collect & record data for your padlet.

1. Form a group of 4 students
2. Obtain supplies:
   • 4 foam tubes
   • 1 bag with marble, plastic cup, measuring tape, stopwatch, masking tape
3. How long is the track? Measure the length of the 4 tubes in METERS. Record the total length.
4. Make the BEST & most CREATIVE coaster that you can.
   • Spread out and find a good area away from other groups.
   • Use the masking tape to tape the 4 tubes together for one giant track.
   • BE CAREFUL WITH THE TAPE: please don’t put it on anything that will rip
   • The end of the coaster should empty into the cup.
5. Name your coaster. Be creative.
6. Obtain & RECORD measurements.
   • Take pictures of your coaster using the iPads
   • Measure each element (start height, height & width of loops, track length, drop heights, corkscrew lengths, etc.) in centimeters. 
   • Take a video of the marble going through the track.
   • Time how long it takes the marble to complete the track.
   • Determine the average speed of your marble.
   • Add all of these pictures, video, data, and measurements to your Padlet (NOTE: you will be able to add this information in class on Friday)
   • Create a sample drawing (like below) using your iPad to add to your padlet
7. Determine the potential energy of the marble at the top of the coaster. The average marble has a mass of 0.0055 kg.
8. Determine the approximate kinetic energy of your marble at the fastest point of your coaster.
9. Cleanup
   • Carefully remove all tape.
   • Disconnect your foam pieces and band them together with the rubber band.
   • Return all supplies to your teacher.

• A picture of your favorite or dream coaster.
• Physics and Roller Coasters
  • What do the following have to do with roller coasters?
    • Acceleration
    • Centripetal/Centrifugal Force
    • “g”
    • Momentum
    • Weightlessness
      • What creates the feeling of weightlessness?
      • Are riders really weightless on a roller coaster?
  • What is friction? What does it have to do with roller coasters?
  • Potential Energy
    • What is potential energy? What’s the equation? Unit?
    • When is PE the greatest in a roller coaster? The least?
  • Kinetic Energy
    • What is kinetic energy? What’s the equation? Unit?
    • What is KE the greatest in a roller coaster? The least?
• Roller Coaster History
  • Describe a bit of the history of roller coasters.
  • What are some of the current records or amazing statistics? (biggest, fastest, tallest…)
• Roller Coaster Elements & Motion
  • Provide at least two pictures of RC elements, labeled.
  • BIG QUESTION: How does a roller coaster continue to move through the twists and turns of a track if it only uses an engine at the very beginning?
• Marble Coaster Construction & Math
  • Pictures of your coaster (plus pictures of individual elements?)
  • Video of the marble rolling through thecoaster
  • Track measurements along with a drawing of your roller coaster
    • Total length
    • Drop height
    • Loop measurements, etc.
  • Average speed of marble on coaster
  • Potential energy of the marble at the top of your coaster
  • Kinetic energy of your marble (using average speed)
• As long as you have all of the above, you may add anything else that you wish!!!

• It’s ok if you want to keep working on your padlet over the weekend.
• Padlets will be graded starting on TUESDAY.
• Go to Schoology and submit the link to the Roller Coaster Physics assignment

How will I be graded?

• I’ve never really graded you like this before!!!
• Instead of a rubric where you earn points for having this or not having this, you’re going to be graded on a 100-point scale based on whether or not you’ve “demonstrated knowledge of roller coaster physics – including your personal marble roller coaster”.
• For example, if you do an absolutely amazing job and your teacher has no doubt that you’ve learned about roller coaster physics (especially KE & PE), you’ll earn an “A” between 90-100.
• If your padlet shows that you followed along, tried hard, but maybe didn’t quite grasp everything or include it all, you might get a “B” between 89-80.
• Get the idea? Let your teacher know if you don’t.
• Here’s the rubric:

• Try some of these problems. You DO NOT need to add them to your padlet; just practice.

1. A 12 kg dog is running at a velocity of 5 m/s. How much kinetic energy does it have?
2. A 5000 kg truck is moving at a velocity of 30 m/s. How much kinetic energydoes it have?
3. If you lift a 50 N watermelon to the top of a 2 m fridge, how much potential energy does it have?
4. Your angry teacher is holding a 1 N book over your head at a height of 0.5 m. How much potential energy does the book have?
5. Two divers are standing at the end of a 10 m diving platform. The first diver, Andy, weighs 20 N. The second diver, Jim, weighs 30 N. Which one has morepotential energy?

1. A 12 kg dog is running at a velocity of 5 m/s. How much kinetic energy does it have?
   • KE = 0.5 x mass x velocity^2
   • KE = 0.5 x 12 x 25 = 150 JOULES
2. A 5000 kg truck is moving at a velocity of 30 m/s. How much kinetic energy does it have?
   • KE = 0.5 x 5000 x 900 = 2,250,000 joules
3. If you lift a 50 N watermelon to the top of a 2 m fridge, how much potential energy does it have?
   • PE = mass x 9.8 x height
   • PE = 50 x 9.8 x 2 = 980 joules
4. Your angry teacher is holding a 1 N book over your head at a height of 0.5 m. How much potential energy does the book have?
   • PE = 1 x 9.8 x 0.5 = 4.9 joules
5. Two divers are standing at the end of a 10 m diving platform. The first diver, Andy, weighs 20 N. The second diver, Jim, weighs 30 N. Which one has more potential energy?
   • Jim, because he has more weight