Paper Roller Coaster Project

Introduction:
A roller coaster is called a coaster because once it starts it coasts
through the entire track. No outside forces are required for most
coasters. (A few have double or triple lift hills and braking sections.)
Roller coasters trade height for velocity and velocity for height. Most all
calculations rely on using velocity measurements in one way or
another. The first step is being able to calculate the changes in speed.
In an ideal world, mechanical energy is conserved. Frictional forces are
ignored in early design stages. (This project does not address the
nuances of dealing with frictional forces.) Mechanical energy on a roller
coaster comes in two basic forms. Kinetic energy, KE = (1/2)mv2, and
potential energy, PE = mgh, due to gravity. Total energy, ET, is
conserved and is equal to the sum of kinetic and potential at any single
location. ET = KE + PE (at any single location)
Objective: To design a paper roller coaster and discuss the physics
principals involved.
Materials:
- Foam base ( 12 inches by 30 inches- can substitute for inch
thick wood)
- Paper templates (located on schoology)
- The templates MUST BE printed on cardstock (65 lb paper).
Regular paper is 25 lb and will not support the design.
- A marble to act as your rider
- Clear tape
- Ball point pen
- If you would like to use other materials you must get teacher
approval.
Deliverables:
-Your paper roller coaster
-A media that shows your calculations and the concepts you
need to discuss and explain.
- The media can either be a poster (digital or physical), a
trifold, a website you created, etc.
-NOTHING should be handwritten!
You will present your roller coaster and media in a symposium fashion.
Meaning, you will all set up the projects at the same time and we will
go from group to group to hear presentations. Do not be surprised if we
have outside guests for this!

Design Constraints:
You have complete design freedom, however the design MUST
include:
- A foam base of 12 inches by 24 inches
- Must include (But not limited to): Two hills together (a
cyclone), a 4 in drop/dip, a regular loop, an irregular
loop, a corkscrew, a wide turn, a tight turn, a banked
curve, a jump, and an original idea designed using the
templates.
- The track must cross at least 6 times.
- Your roller coaster must have a support system (so
horizontal and vertical supports). If I push on the coaster
it should not sway.
- Your roller coaster must have a theme, scenery
surrounding the base, a name, and be creative!!!!!
Calculations:
- In the hill, you must calculate the velocity at the bottom
of the first hill and the velocity at the top of the second
hill. (You will need to know the velocity of the marble as
it enters into the hill)
- Find the minimum height necessary to make it around
the loop without falling out.
o What is the centripetal acceleration around the
loop?
o How many gs does the marble experience
- At least one more additional calculation from the
concepts you will cover below.
***The lab you would need to do to find out the minimum height, etc,
is located on caseyphysics.weebly.com under classroom resources.
Concepts:
-You must discuss these concepts in your presentation and you
should use your knowledge of the general equations to help lead you
to your conclusion.
1. For each required element listed in the constraints you must
discuss the physics concepts involved and what the rider feels
when they enter into that portion of the track. (For example, a
corkscrew is meant for the rider to experience gs and feel a
sense of weightlessness due to centripetal acceleration.)
a. The concepts covered include, but not limited to,
Conservation of Energy, Kinetic and Potential Energy,

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Work/Force, Centripetal Force and Centripetal Acceleration,

Projectile Motion, Free Fall, etc
What is the difference between Centripetal Force and Centripetal
Acceleration and how they factor into your roller coaster design?
Why do we have to curve the track after a free fall drop?
What do we mean when we talk about gs?
What is the point of dips? Why is the shape so important and
what would happen if the end curve was not figured properly?
What is the purpose of controlled acceleration?
What is the difference between a regular loop and an irregular
loop in terms of physics.

Grading:
This project will count on a 200 point scale.
-Roller Coaster Grading (100 points):
1. 50 points is awarded for following all design constraints
and containing all elements
2. Creativity (10 points)
3. Creativity of Original Design Element (10 points)
4. Complexity (10 points)
5. Construction (20 points)
-Presentation Media (each category is worth 25 points)
1. Calculations
2. Clarity of Work
3. Concepts Covered
4. Presentation Knowledge