Lesson 8: Roller Coaster Calculations

Introduction

Student teams have an opportunity to refine their roller coaster designs by calculating hill heights and loop radii.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will gain more experience with quantitative examples of energy transformations by calculating the dimensions of their roller coaster track.

Classroom Time Required

• 50 minutes

Pre-activities

• Discuss the energy conservation process introduced during lesson 6 to see if students are comfortable with solving these types of problems. If not, it might help to do another example.
• To calculate hill heights, students will need to know the speed at which the roller coaster moves at the bottom of the hill. They can assume a value (assuming it’s reasonable) based upon safety concerns or research existing roller coaster speeds

Activities

• Give students time to work on their designs
• As students work, circulate around the classroom, talking with students about their calculations. Also ask them how the presence of friction affects their calculations.
• Students will have their second collaboration session during Lesson 9, so they need to prepare either during this lesson or outside of class.
• Students need to have a complete design with heights for all hills and radii for all loops by Lesson 9. One team member needs to upload this design to the blog by the beginning of lesson 9.