Marble Roller Coaster Physics Concepts

This science kit comes with a 32 page book and a cardboard roller coaster you can build.

Marble roller coaster physics concepts.

Key concepts physics gravity potential energy kinetic energy friction conservation of energy. Abstract if you d like to investigate the physics of amusement park rides then this project is for you. Build your own marble roller coaster in this project and find out. Then have everyone gently take apart only their own roller coaster and clump all the used tape into a giant tape ball start of class lecture.

The purpose of the coaster s initial ascent is to build up a sort of reservoir of potential energy the concept of potential energy often referred to as energy of position is very simple. The book explains various physics concepts such as gravity mass and weight. You ll build a roller coaster track for marbles using foam pipe insulation and masking tape and see how much the marble s potential energy at the beginning of the track is converted to kinetic energy at various points along the track. Allow 2 minutes near end of class for students to try each others coasters.

Arrange plenty of space in your room cleanup. Identify the two parts. Younger kids will need some help as there are many pieces in the. You ll build a roller coaster track for marbles using foam pipe insulation and masking tape and see how much of an initial drop is required to get the marble to loop the loop it s a great way to learn about how stored energy potential energy is converted into the energy of motion kinetic energy.

The foam tubing roller. As the coaster gets higher in the air gravity can pull it down a greater distance you experience this phenomenon all the time.