Design a roller coaster activity

Objective:
The objective of this activity is to allow you to understand the conservation of energy and how it
transfers from one form to another. You will also be asked to calculate different speeds at different
times during an energy transfer. Be sure to read all the way through before you begin.

Procedure:
1. On a blank piece of printer paper you will be drawing a 2-d roller coaster with the following:
a. The roller coaster must start on the left hand side and finish on the right (does not need
to be able to start again)
b. The roller coaster can have no outside energy being added, whatever energy it starts
with on the left is what it finishes with. Assume no friction and an isolated system.
c. The track must have at least one loop that it can travel around safely. Assume that
acceleration due to gravity is 9.81.
d. Creativity is recommended
e. Obeys the laws of physics
2. You will select your own dimensions for the roller coaster, for example:
a. Height
b. Radius of loop
c. Mass of car, passengers
d. Number of passengers
3. You will label 5 points with the letters A, B, C, D, E.
a. A is the point with the greatest potential energy
b. B is the point with the greatest kinetic energy
c. C is the point at the top of your loop
d. D and E are any point on the track where there is both kinetic and potential energy
4. At each of your points you will calculate 3 things, you will need to show all of your work for at
least one of these points. After showing one sample calculation you may just write down the
answers if you prefer.
a. Potential Energy at this point
b. Kinetic Energy at this point
c. Speed at this point
5. You also need to show the total mechanical energy somewhere on the paper

Example:
A basic example looks without calculations can look like this:

-This example is very simple and does not include any calculations or a point E.
-Your track does not need to end at the same height as it begins

Grading:
This whole process should take no longer than 45 minutes. The grading will be as follows
4 marks for meeting all requirements
2 marks for showing correct sample calculations
2 marks for creativity
2 mark for neatness (very little erase marks, organized, ect)

Do not be afraid to add any detail or go beyond the requirements. This is due before our next test, if you
have any questions or need to have some clarified just ask.