Roller Coasters

Webquest

Introduction

Task Process

Evaluation

Conclusion

Intr

oduct

ion

Summer’s coming up and

even your teacher is

excited to enjoy the sun.

The first place I’m heading

is to an amusement park.

My favorite rides to go on

are, of course, the roller

coasters. I know I loved

going on roller coasters

when I was in school, and I

still do. Hopefully all of you

do too!

Task

To get you fully prepared for

the summer ahead, you will

get into teams of 6 to

research, design and build

(virtually and literally) your

own coaster. You will also

submit a written report

explaining the forces behind

each death defying loop and

stomach churning turn in the

coaster. Finally, you will

evaluate your own and your

classmates’ coasters based

on their effectiveness.

Like

this

guy…

Proce

ss

1. Listed below are the

websites to provide you

with the basic physics

concepts behind creating a

roller coaster.Newton’s LawsKinetic and PotentialEnergy

G ForcesCentripital ForceLoss of Heat and SoundCoaster Physics

Proce

ss

2. Below are websites to

virtually design a coaster.

These will help to provide

a visual to develop further understanding.

Virtual CoasterVirtual Coaster 2 3. Listed below is a website that explains how

to build model coasters.

Models

Eva

luati

on

The grading rubric for

the assignment can be

found here.

Concl

usi

on

Hopefully, this WebQuest

has given you the opportunity to experience

the thrill of using the

physics principles learned

to design your own coaster. Now you can

impress your friends by

explaining the forces that

propel you as you’re

upside in the first loop. Or,

of course, you can simply

enjoy the ride.

Teach

er’

s Pa

ge

Grade Level: 12Performance Objectives:

Students will be able to identify

and explain the laws of physics

applicable to roller coasters.

Students will demonstrate

understanding of these concepts

in the written report describing

their coasters.Students will experiment by

designing and building their own

model coaster.Students will evaluate the

effectiveness of their own and

fellow classmates’ coasters.

Teach

er’

s Pa

ge

Academic Standards

- Apply the principles of motion and force.

- Evaluate wave properties of frequency,

wavelength and speed as applied to

sound and light through different media.

- Propose and produce modifications to

specific mechanical power systems that

will improve their efficiency.

- Analyze the principles of translational

motion, velocity and acceleration as they

relate to free fall and projectile motion.

- Analyze the principles of rotational

motion to solve problems relating to

angular momentum, and torque.

- Interpret a model that illustrates circular

motion and acceleration.

- Describe inertia, motion, equilibrium,

and action/ reaction concepts through

words, models and mathematical

symbols.