Amusement Park Ride: Ups and Downs in Design

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Author:

C. Shade, M. Cyr

Subject:

Mathematics and Statistics, Science and Technology

Institution Name:

Women in Engineering Programs and Advocates Network (WEPAN)

Collection:

TeachEngineering

Grade Level:

Primary, Secondary

Abstract:

This unit has students design and build foam tubing roller coasters. The design process integrates energy concepts as they test and evaluate their designs that address the task as an engineer would. The goal is for students to understand the basics of engineering design associated with kinetic and potential energy to build an optimal roller coaster. The marble starts with potential energy that is then converted to kinetic energy as it moves along the track. The diameter of the loops that the marble will traverse without falling out is depended on the kinetic energy obtained by the marble.

Languages:

English

Material Type:

Activities and Labs, Lesson Plans

Media Format:

Graphics/Photos, Text/HTML

Conditions of Use:

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Resources may be used on a nonprofit, non-commercial basis by educators, without any fee or cost to access, link to and use, or in any manner alter, revise, copy, edit, translate or digitize.

Copyright Holder:

Women in Engineering Programs and Advocates Network (WEPAN)