Marble Roller Coaster Background Research

Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy.

Marble roller coaster background research.

The marble rolls because it has gravitational potential energy. This is a good opportunity to explain the negative effects of momentum. If it s too flexible then it s hard for the loop to keep its shape. A marble travelling forward will continue moving in that direction because of it s momentum.

Marble roller coasters are science based interactive toys that work on the principles of physics particularly changing potential energy into kinetic energy. In roller coaster construction this is called track banking. Because some energy is always lost to friction your initial hill. Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object has stored because of.

Get hands on exploring what kinds of loops are possible how energy changes during a ride and how the laws of motion come into play. Building a simple marble run or tube based coaster is only the beginning. Plan your 60 minute lesson in science with helpful tips from kara nelson. 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.

Potential energy is gathered by an object as it moves upwards or away from the earth. It must have at least 2 hills including the starting point one loop cannot have a top and must be free standing. The foam pipe insulation needs to be the stiff kind. Your roller coaster will transport a marble that you supply you can use any model or size marble.

If a curved track is not banked the marble may fly off of the edge of the track. With a roller coaster this is acheived by pulling the train up a lift hill to the coaster s highest point. Your roller coaster cannot be prefabricated or from a kit. They re miniature versions of the types of roller coasters you d find at amusement parks and they include twists turns and loops.

In this lesson students will prepare to construct a marble roller coaster by completing background research on roller coasters. Research design and build a roller coaster. Roller coasters and marble runs offer an engaging platform for invention engineering and physics based investigation.