The ChallengeTo design and construct a roller coaster that can change levels at least 7 times. A minimum of two of these level changes or drops must consist of some type of loop. Your prototype coaster is to be built only of poster board and glue. A marble will be used as the vehicle for your prototype coaster.
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The Sketch |
The Process
The Scientific Principles
A roller coaster is a dynamic, three dimensional fixed course, gravity operated recreational vehicle. We build a track. We have included in our track design some curves and loops to increase the level of enjoyment. (Call it the fun factor.) We figure out how to make some cars that will roll along the track. Not too tough, but critical for safety. We put a short string of cars together, fill them with folks and send them on their way.At the beginning of coaster rides is a big long "hill" to climb. The cars are cranked up to the top, and through all the time they are being lifted, energy is being added. This energy collects in the cars (and riders) as they are lifted to the highest point of the track: the start. Special note here: all the energy that is used in the ride has been put in by lifting the cars up the starting grade. All of it. Gravity has been acting on the cars all the time. By lifting the cars, the energy of gravity (that constant pull) has been "overridden" by our lifting machinery, and now we are about to tap that energy. With a nudge, the cars go forward and start down the initial descent.
Gravity pulls the cars down, and we're flying! We are now converting the stored (potential) energy we gathered climbing the hill at the start into the energy of motion (kinetic energy). In the turns and loops, the cars careen around and we are pressed into the seats. We change the course of the track and reorient the cars along the way to make it more fun and redirect energy. As we make those twists and loops, we will be tapping more of that energy that we stored in the cars at the start, and we'll be using it to keep the cars on the track in the loops and twists. We finally come to a stop. End of the ride. Exit safely, please. Come back again soon.
Source: http://wiki.answers.com/
Gravity pulls the cars down, and we're flying! We are now converting the stored (potential) energy we gathered climbing the hill at the start into the energy of motion (kinetic energy). In the turns and loops, the cars careen around and we are pressed into the seats. We change the course of the track and reorient the cars along the way to make it more fun and redirect energy. As we make those twists and loops, we will be tapping more of that energy that we stored in the cars at the start, and we'll be using it to keep the cars on the track in the loops and twists. We finally come to a stop. End of the ride. Exit safely, please. Come back again soon.
Source: http://wiki.answers.com/
The Roller Coaster
Final Thoughts
The roller coaster project was fun to build. It is a fun project to learn engineering, whilst having fun. Our roller coaster in particular, I think, turned out well. It works efficiently and is a cool design overall.