FIELD TRIPS : SCIENCEWORKS LAB : The Ups and Downs of Roller Coaster Physics

Students will experiment with momentum, kinetic and potential energy by building roller coasters in teams. Let the forces of physics take you for a ride!

Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations, Science, 2007

• Demonstrate scientific concepts through various illustrations, performances, models, exhibits and activities. (S.RS.04.11)
• Distinguish between contact forces and non-contact forces. (P.FM.05.21)
• Demonstrate contact and non-contact forces to change the motion of an object. (P.FM.05.22)
• Identify kinetic or potential energy in everyday situations (for example: stretched rubber band, objects in motion, ball on a hill, food energy). (P.EN.06.11)
• Demonstrate the transformation between potential and kinetic energy in simple mechanical systems (for example: roller coasters, pendulums). (P.EN.06.12)

The Ups and Downs of Roller Coaster Physics Pre-visit Materials

During Your Visit to the ScienceWorks Lab students will be expected to:

• Sit in tables of 6 students and (at least) 1 adult
• Students should be prepared to give their attention to the Lab instructors when requested to “Give Me Five”
• Work cooperatively with one another at the table
• Follow the hands-on procedures just as the Lab teacher or assistant explains them
• Handle materials and equipment carefully

It is important that teachers and chaperones:

• Help to focus the students’ attention
• Assist students with the hands-on activities and experiments when necessary
• Turn off cell phones and pagers during the class

Vocabulary

Physics: The science of matter and its motion, as well as space and time; the science that deals with concepts such as force, energy, mass and charge.

Momentum: The product of mass and velocity of an object; a conserved quantity, meaning that the total momentum of any closed system (one not affected by external forces) cannot change.

Potential Energy: Energy stored within a physical system. This energy can be released or converted into other forms of energy, including kinetic energy. It is called potential energy because it has the potential to change the states of objects in the system when the energy is released.

Kinetic Energy: The extra energy, which an object possesses due to its motion; the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its current velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes.

The Ups and Downs of Roller Coaster Physics Post-visit Activity

Post-visit activities will help reiterate new concepts and tie the ScienceWorks Lab experience to your classroom curriculum. Below you will find a classroom activity and a list of suggested resources for further information. We hope that you enjoyed your field trip. Visit us again!

Suggested Resources

Books

Mason, Paul. Roller Coaster! (Raintree Fusion: Motion and Accelleration). Raintree. 2006.
Branley, Franklyn M. and Edward Miller. Gravity is a Mystery. Collins. 2007.
Prasad, Kamal and Aurore Simonnet. Why Can’t I Jump Very High? A Book About Gravity. Science Square Publishing. 2004.
Usborne Books. Illustrated Dictionary of Physics. Usborne Books. 2000.

Internet

Momentum Conservation Principle
Roller Coaster
Funderstanding Roller Coaster
The Physics Classroom Tutorial
Amusement Park Physics
Rollercoaster Database