Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Circular and Satellite Motion: Roller Coaster Model
An interactive playground for students to explore the physics of roller coasters. Learners investigate by changing the variables of force, velocity, friction, and vectors. Energy bar charts are displayed as the coaster car moves along...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: The Ultimate Roller Coaster Contest
Students design and build a three hill "tennis ball" roller coaster made of cardboard. During the design and building process, students explore the concepts of potential and kinetic energy and how they change as the roller coaster...
Other
Hstry: Roller Coaster Design Brief Template
Interactive site by STEM teacher Mariana Garcia-Serrato in a lesson on physics in which students design, budget for and analyze their own roller coasters.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Design a Roller Coaster
An interactive lesson where students design and build their own virtual roller coaster. Choose the height of the hills. the shape of the hills. and loop to find out if you successfully used physics concepts to pass the safety and fun...
Other
Roller Coaster Database: Cedar Point: Raptor Roller Coaster
Find out about the facts about the Raptor roller coaster, which cost $11.5 million to build in 1994.
Other
Roller Coaster Database: Cedar Point: Gatekeeper Roller Coaster
Learn the facts about the Gatekeeper roller coaster in Sandusky, Ohio. Includes information on the speed, height and materials used to create this popular ride.
Other
Roller Coaster Database: Cedar Point: Corkscrew
Find out about this roller coaster at Cedar Point, which takes riders through a double corkscrew configuration.
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.
Other
Six Flags: Great Adventure: Green Lantern Roller Coaster
Learn the facts about one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Circular, Satellite, Rotational: Roller Coaster G Forces
Roller coaster rides are notorious for creating accelerations and g-forces. The magnitude and direction of normal force and gravity during the motion through a coaster's loop are depicted this animation.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How Roller Coasters Affect Your Body
Brian D. Avery investigates what roller coasters are doing to your body and how they've managed to get scarier and safer at the same time.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Building Roller Coasters
In this hands-on activity students learn about the laws of physics by creating a marble roller coaster.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Amusement Park Physics: Roller Coaster
This interesting and interactive exhibit demonstrates how Newton's Laws of Motion impact the design and safety of roller coasters.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Work and Energy: Energy Transformation on Roller Coasters
Using a roller coaster as an example, the transformation of mechanical energy from the form of potential to the form of kinetic and vice versa is explained and illustrated in the animation.
Other
Funderstanding: Roller Coaster Game
Design your own thrilling coaster and learn about energy and friction.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Energy on a Roller Coaster
This activity utilizes hands-on learning with the conservation of energy and the interaction of friction. Students use a roller coaster track and collect position data. The students then calculate velocity, and energy data. After the...
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago: Activities: Build a Roller Coaster
Build the roller coaster, then keep making adjustments to see how it affects the potential and kinetic energy of the marble along its tracks.
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.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Tubularastic Roller Coaster
Third graders will understand the effect of gravity on objects.
Other
My Physics Lab: Roller Coaster
Create a simplified roller coaster with this simulation by creating a track shape for a ball to travel on. Students can change gravity and damping. Site includes equations to help students understand what is happening in the simulation.
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...
Read Works
Read Works: Energy Screams
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about potential and kinetic energy on a roller coaster.. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Other
Roller Coaster Database: Superman Escape Roller Coaster
Find out when this amazing ride was built, how high it climbs and how fast it soars.
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...
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