Design A Wild Ride

Scenario

The Kingsley Chamber of Commerce has decided that the time has come for Kingsley, Michigan to have an amusement park to generate tourist dollars for the community. Engineering companies are asked to submit a plan for the new roller coaster to be built at the amusement park. The chamber of commerce wants this roller coaster to be the most exciting roller coaster in Michigan.
 
As the design engineer for the WildRide Engineering Company you will submit a design plan and the specifications for the roller coaster. Your roller coaster must have the following three components:  a large hill, a small hill, and a vertical loop. The ride will consist of single cars (800 kg each) and must safely hold up to four large adults (90 kg each).


Task

You will research and answer the essential question:

How do I design a safe and exciting roller coaster?

You will also be asked to show calculations for each of the four sections of the ride.

To help you answer the essential question you must answer the following foundation questions:

  1. What is potential energy?  What is the equation for potential energy?

  2. What is kinetic energy?  What is the equation for kinetic energy?

  3. What is centripetal acceleration? What is centripetal force?  What are the equations for each?

  4. What determines the size and shape of a loop of the roller coaster? 

  5. What are Newton's Laws of motion? 

  6. What is free fall? 

  7. What is a g-force? What maximum g forces can a human endure? 

  8. What is acceleration? What equations are used to find acceleration?

  9. What is velocity? What equations are used to find velocity?

Resources

Acceleration Stresses

http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/6/0,5716,3506+1,00.html

This site explains how g-forces effect the human body.
Amusement Park Physics

http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/coaster.html

This site has information on how a roller coaster works. It also takes you step by step in designing your own roller coaster.
Funderstanding Roller Coaster

http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/

This site has an interactive roller coaster. You are able to set the controls for various parameters of the coaster. You can also get information on selected physics topics.
Roller Coaster Physics

http://141.104.22.210/Anthology/Pav/Science/Physics/book/home.html

This site is intended for middle school and high school teachers, but students will find it helpful for some of the principles involved in the design of a roller coaster.  Many other physics principles are found here also.
The Physics of Roller Coasters

http://coasters.eb.com/ride.html

This site discusses many of the physics fundamentals found in roller coasters.

How Things Work

 How Things Work, Centrifuges and Roller Coasters

http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/HTW//

At this site people have submitted questions to be answered by Professor Bloomfield of the University of Virginia. When you get to the site, select Roller Coasters in the By Topics section. You will find answers to various physics topics about roller coasters.
Build a Roller Coaster

http://www.discovery.com/exp/rollercoasters/build.html

This site lets you create your own ride. You will be able to click on various icons to change the design of the track. Drawback, if your roller coaster does not work, you are not given feedback on how to correct mistakes. This is a trial and error construction only.
The Physics of Amusement Parks

http://library.thinkquest.org/2745/

At this site you can learn about kinetic and potential energy, centripetal force, and free fall.
Fizzics Fizzle

http://library.thinkquest.org/16600/

This is an interactive guide to physics. You can learn about the fundamental concepts of physics here. Go to the intermediate site.

Product

Your final product will be

Part 1. A scale drawing of the roller coaster with specifications. (You may draw the roller coaster with all of the hills and loops in a row.)

Part 2. A written justification (a Word document) along with the supporting physics calculations that support your design for four separate locations on your roller coaster. For each location you must address at least four different physics concepts addressed in the fundamental questions. Be sure to number the locations on your drawing and match your description to that location.

Assessment

Part 1
 
Competency Advanced 

(3)

 Intermediate 

(2)

 Beginner 

(1)

 No Attempt 

(0)

 Weight 

(x)

 Total Points
Drawing
All of the following:
Drawing is to scale, with scale shown.

Drawing is done neatly.

Four separate locations labeled.

Design contains the three components.

Specifications shown.
Most of the following:
Drawing is to scale, with scale shown.

Drawing is done neatly.

Four separate locations labeled.

Design contains the three components.

Specifications shown.
Some of the following:
Drawing is to scale, with scale shown.

Drawing is done neatly.

Four separate locations labeled.

Design contains the three components.

Specifications shown.

   5  

Part 2
 
Competency Advanced 

(3)

 Intermediate 

(2)

 Beginner 

(1)

 No Attempt 

(0)

 Weight 

(x)

 Total Points 

 
Locations Four different locations have a written justification. Three different locations have a written justification. Two different locations have a written justification.   1  
Descriptions Justifications are clearly stated for all locations. Justifications are stated for some locations. Justifications are stated but do not make sense.   3  
Physics Concepts
All of the following:
Four different concepts are discussed for the four locations. 

The concepts are appropriate for the location.
Most of the following:
Four different concepts are discussed for the four locations. 

The concepts are appropriate for the location.
Some of the following:
Four different concepts are discussed for the four locations. 

The concepts are appropriate for the location.

   5  
Calculations
All of the following:
All work shown neatly.

Equations are shown.

Units included in all parts of the problems.

Calculations done correctly.

Calculations for four different concepts are shown.
Most of the following:
All work shown neatly.

Equations are shown.

Units included in all parts of the problems.

Calculations done correctly.

Calculations for four different concepts are shown.
Some of the following:
All work shown neatly.

Equations are shown.

Units included in all parts of the problems.

Calculations done correctly.

Calculations for four different concepts are shown.

   5  

This project addresses the following Michigan Department of Education Content Standards:
Science, Strand IV, Content Standard 2, High School 1
Science, Strand IV, Content Standard 3, High School 3
Technology, Using Technology, Content Standard 2, High School 1

 

Copyright 2000. All rights reserved by S. Schnack

Kingsley High School, Kingsley, MI

Contact author at sschnack@kingsley.tbaisd.k12.mi.us