Advanced Physics of Roller Coasters Lab

Advanced Physics of Roller Coasters Lab

Grades: 9-12
Duration: 60 minutes

Available Times: 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on school field trip operating days
Concepts/Skills: Energy, Velocity, Acceleration, Gravitational Forces, Engineering Design, Graph Analysis

 

Calculate the thrills and excitement of a roller coaster prototype! Use data analysis skills to create a scale model of a roller coaster based on different physics data.

Lab Guide

Design a robust learning experience by selecting resources from this guide that fit the needs of your students. Reinforce learning before, after and even during your visit by diving deeper into some of the science and engineering concepts.

Lab-Related Activities

Lessons marked with an orange gear icon address engineering within the Next Generation Science Standards.

Circle of Pong

Grades 2-12

Use knowledge of energy and forces to place a ball in the center of a 6 foot diameter circle. Iterate through this design challenge, to gain first-hand experience using the Innovation Design Process.

Lesson: 65 minutes

Exploring Chain Reactions

Grades 2-12

Explore stored energy, energy transfer, and simple machines while building a series of chain reactions.

Activity: 30 minutes
Lesson: Two 60-minute sessions

Vocabulary Choice Board

Grades K-12

Vocabulary activities to pair with one of our labs or other STEM activities.

Lesson: 20-30 min

Advanced Physics of Roller Coasters Lab

Exhibit Connections

Make connections between learning from the lab and the exhibits and programs found in The Tech Interactive’s galleries. For more exhibit connections, see the Lab Guide above.

  • Science on a Roll: Ball Machine

    (outside of Park Ave. entrance)

    Witness an elaborate demonstration of the transfer of potential and kinetic energy.

  • The Innovator

    Students design their own roller coasters at a designated design station. Once tested and successful, students take their designs to the roller coaster simulator where they’ll share the experience and thrills of their design first hand.

  • Innovation in Bloom

    Launch balls into the air and watch them race through winding tubes, past blooming flowers and playful local animals. At the bottom, build your own ball tracks and team up with friends to trigger a giant brainstorm of balls cascading down in an epic finale.

Standards Connections

Next Generation Science Standards  
Grades Engineering Design
 Physical Science Disciplinary Core Ideas Crosscutting Concepts Science and Engineering Practices
9-12 HS-ETS1-2 HS-ETS1-3 HS-PS2-1
HS-PS3-3		 PS3.B
ETS1.A ETS1.B ETS1.C		 Energy and Matter
Systems and System Models
Structure and Function		 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6