The Green MachineByJonathan AdamsBrett DentonZachery EllisJoseph Selby

The Green Machine

Introduction

The project goal – to build a rollercoaster that last 15 seconds

We bought most of the materials at The Home Depot and Wal-Mart for about $20

The design is two small tubes held together by popsicle sticks and held up by Styrofoam which a marble rides

Energy

Initially the ball has potential energy as it is start from a height of 18 inches above the ground.

Once the ball begins rolling it has kinetic energy.

Mgh = 1/2mv^2 + Energy loss

Concepts used from class

 Projectile Motion – we could use the Trajectory to find the angle the ramp need to make the jump

Conservation of Energy – we could use the equation to find the speed at any given point

Circular motion – we could use to find the amount the curves needed to be banked

Conclusion

The building of the coaster took about 6 hours by all four members. The reports took about 3 hours.

Some problems we had:

- Keeping the marble on the track

- banking the curves WE ARE HAPPY NO MORE EF151