Curated OER
Electricity's Attraction
Learners explore the different features of a roller coaster using an interactive website. In this physical science lesson, students explain the role of science to make this thrill ride possible. They develop a creative presentation about...
Curated OER
Take a Roller Coaster Ride
Students investigate how roller coasters are built. In this physics lesson, students research the laws of physics that affect roller coaster construction. Students create their own roller coaster design.
Curated OER
Tubularastic Roller Coaster
Students observe the effect of gravity on objects. They use tubing and other materials to simulate a roller caster. Afterward, they create a journal to write their observations and summaries.
Curated OER
Building a Roller Coaster
Students describe the law of conservation of energy. They identify the conversion between potential and kinetic energy. They investigate and describe the application of Newton's Laws of Motion.
Curated OER
The Ultimate Roller Coaster Contest
Young scholars explain how conservation of energy applies to roller coasters. In this physics lesson, students construct their own coasters according to a specified criteria. They make modifications to their design when necessary.
Curated OER
Roller Coaster Simulator for the Magnetic Chalkboard: Construction Plans
Pupils watch a demonstration that allows the teacher to show Galileo's inertia experiment and how and why the hills on roller coasters are designed as they are. The roller coaster simulator can be mounted on a magnetic chalkboard;...
Curated OER
Life Is Like a Roller Coaster
Second graders practice "I" messages and explore how life can be like a roller coaster.
Curated OER
Ball Bearing Roller Coasters and Teamwork Lab
Students discuss potential and kinetic energy and design roller coasters to study this concept. In this energy lesson, students discuss the potential and kinetic energy of a roller coaster. Students design roller coasters and hypothesize...
Curated OER
Roller Coaster Ride
In this roller coaster ride worksheet, students complete 5 statements related to an imagined roller coaster ride that they have just experienced. First, they explain why they were excited and how fast the roller coast went. Then,...
Curated OER
Roller Coaster Ride 2
In this roller coaster ride worksheet, students complete 5 statements about imagining they had just experienced riding on a roller coaster. First, they describe how excited they were and why. Then, students describe how fast the roller...
Curated OER
Magic Mountain Coaster Computation
Students use the Internet to do research on the roller coasters at Magic Mountain Amusement Park. They must use mathematical formulas to calculate the highest and fastest coaster at the park.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Roller Coaster
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the conservation of energy in the context of a roller coaster.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Fear Factor: Using Pulse Rate to Measure Emotion
Do you remember a situation when you heart pounded, your breath rate shot up, and your palms got cold and clammy? Fear does that to us. Here's a science project based on roller coaster rides to see if heart rate is an accurate...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Roller Coaster Marbles: How Much Height to Loop the Loop?
This is a really fun project even if you don't like going on roller coasters yourself. You'll build a roller coaster track for marbles using foam pipe insulation and masking tape, and see how much of an initial drop is required to get...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Converting Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy
If you'd like to investigate the physics of amusement park rides, then this project is for you. You'll build a roller coaster track for marbles using foam pipe insulation and masking tape, and see how much the marble's potential energy...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: The Chills and Thrills of Roller Coaster Hills
Lots of people enjoy roller coasters, but not many understand why they feel the strange excitement they do when riding them. In this science fair project, you will build and use an accelerometer to figure out and measure gravity-induced...
NC State University
The Engineering Place: Roller Coasters [Pdf]
A lesson where learners construct a roller coaster and test it under different conditions to learn about force and motion.
Other
Roller Coaster Database: Worldwide Roller Coaster Data
This is a comprehensive research database with data on over 6,300 roller coasters all over the planet.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Physics of Roller Coasters
Learners explore the physics utilized by engineers in designing today's roller coasters, including potential and kinetic energy, friction, and gravity. First, students learn that all true roller coasters are completely driven by the...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Amusement Park Physics: Roller Coaster
Learn about Newton's Laws of Physics, g-force, the causes of motion sickness, and more by reading about different rides at an amusement park.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Loop the Loop
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the centripetal motion in the context of a roller coaster going through a loop-the-loop and over a hill.
Unite for Literacy
Unite for Literacy: Technology: Hold On!
A book about riding a rollercoaster. Book includes audio narration in nine additional languages with text in English.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Centripetal Force: Roller Coaster Loops
This video segment explains centripetal force and illustrates how roller coasters rely on it to give you a thrilling ride. Includes background reading material and discussion questions. [4:40]
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: California Screamin' Roller Coaster
This popular Disney roller coaster is made out of steel. Learn more facts about this popular amusement park ride, the fastest at any Disney theme park.