PhysicsPipe Insulation Roller Coasters

Objective:

- Using the principles of energy & circular motion, design & build a roller coaster using cardboard, duct tape & 24 feet of pipe insulation

Requirements:

- Roller coasters must fit within a 2.0m x 1.0m rectangle

- Must include 2 inversions

- Must end exactly 50 centimeters off the ground (install brakes if necessary)

- You may not cut pipe insulation. You must use all 24 feet of pipe insulation.

Scoring: (75 pts)- will be done by Mr. Wildeboer & other staff members

- will be based on: o creativity, originality, & aesthetics (20%)o safety (does your marble fall out?) (15%)o average speed (faster is better, but be careful…) (10%)o number of turns & hills (more are better) (15%)o appropriate name for the coaster (5%)o excitement of the ride (does it look like it’d be thrilling or a

snoozer?) (10%)o sticking to the requirements (25%)

Coasters must test successfully 5 times on testing day.- A successful test is one where the marble makes it all the way through

the coaster without falling out or stopping before the end.

- A test must be timed in order for it to be considered “successful.”

- No changes may be made in between successful tests for prior tests to count toward your total. (e.g.- If you have two successful tests, but then change the height of a hill, you start over).

- Your successful tests do not need to be consecutive. As long as you do not change anything about your coaster, any successful test counts.

However, if it requires 30 tests to get 5 successful tests, your safety score will be pretty low.

Physics Requirements (75 pts)

Ek, Ep, & r (25 pts)

Determine and label the Ek, Ep, & r of your marble at 8 locations on your track. Include your calculations on a separate sheet of paper. These calculations should be very neat, show all your work, and be easy to follow.

Loop Calculations (25 pts)

Determine and label the minimum velocities required for the marble to stay on the track at the top of the loops. Be sure your marble can maintain those minimum speeds through your inversions.

Maintaining Safe g -Forces (25 pts)

Determine and label the g-forces through both your inversions, and through at least 5 other corners, hills, or valleys. For more points, calculate g’s through all your corners.

Time Line

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 Go over project details & begin construction

Wednesday, January 30, 2008Coasters due. Calculations finished. Testing & judging.