AP Calculus BC: Roller Coaster Project

Problem Summary
Six Flags has decided to open a theme park in Howell. Your company has been hired to design Six Flags new roller
coaster. In small groups, you will discuss various designs and create a design based on what you think is best. Write a
summary of your results as if you were trying to convince Six Flags to build your roller coaster, since your design is the best!
Assignment Instructions
1. Meet as a group to discuss some possible themes for your roller coasters (e.g., movies, water, Halloween, etc.).
Discuss what elements you think go into making a good roller coaster. Talk about any good memories you may
have of fun times on a roller coaster. Make a plan for completing the project.
Be sure to include these discussion points in your individual reflection (see Step
#7 below).
2. Research the best roller coasters in the world, looking for answers to some of the following questions (and looking
for inspiration when designing your own roller coaster): What makes them great? Where are they? What kind of
names do they have? What makes them safe? How much does it cost to ride them? How much did it cost to build
them? How fast do they go? What specific specifications are necessary in order to make it safe. As a group, if you
could ride one roller coaster in the world, which one would you most like to ride, and why?
This information will go on your group poster.
3. Each person in your group should design his/her own roller coaster. Following the requirements below:
A. The roller coaster must be created with at least five pieces in a piecewise function. You may use any type of
function including linear, trig, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, or inverse trig but the path of the coaster
must be modeled using differentiable functions. (No corners, cusps, vertical tangents, points of discontinuity!)
B. A roller coaster never gets as high as its previous high point.
C. The lowest the roller coaster can be is a height of 10 feet.
D. The roller coaster should end at the same height it starts. There may be a horizontal
line for the loading area, which should not exceed 60 feet in length. This does not count
as one of the five pieces of the piecewise function, however, there should still be a
smooth transition to/from this horizontal line.
E. Remember that your goal is to create an exciting but safe rollercoaster. Loops are okay
but not required.

4. In a report to promote the roller coaster created, include the following:

A. The name of the roller coaster.
B. Where is the path increasing and decreasing? Justify using derivatives

Where is the path concave up and down? Justify using 1 st or 2nd derivatives.
For each fall, where is the steepest descent, and how steep is the angle?
Show that the curves are continuous and differentiable at each of the transition points of the piecewise function.
Draw a graph of the roller coaster (graph the piecewise function). (state the scale used)
Draw a graph of the slope of the path versus the distance along the ground from the start
(graph the first derivative).
H. Draw a graph of the rate of change of the slope (graph the second derivative).
I. The thrill of a drop is the product of the angle of steepest descent in the drop (in radians) and the total vertical
distance in the drop. The thrill of the coaster is the sum of the thrills of each drop. Determine the thrill of the roller
coaster.
J. Explanation to six flags explaining why you rollercoaster is the best.
This report is a separate write-up from the summary on your poster in Step #2.
This report is to be at least five pages: three pages of graphs (one graph per
page), and at least two pages of analysis (narrative and calculations). Each
group member will do this individually for their rollercoaster. Remember that
you are trying to convince six flags to choose your design.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.

5. As a group, meet to decide which roller coaster is the best from among your groups individual roller coasters. In
your reflection (see Step #7 below), compare the roller coasters on key elements to show which one is the best,
and why.
6. Create a poster summarizing this project. (To be done as a group)
Include:
A. Graph of the chosen roller coaster design and name of the coaster. A Real life drawing of what it will look like will
be great!
B. Pictures of some of your favorite roller coasters.
C. Summary of the calculus needed to create the roller coaster
7. Write a 1-2 page reflection on the entire project. (To be done by each group member.)
You must address the following in your reflection:
A. Discussion points from Step #1
B. Comparison and contrast of the different roller coasters in your group from Step #5
C. What went well with this project?
D. What were some obstacles faced and overcome?
E. Group dynamics (did you work well together or not, and why)
F. How this project helped improve your understanding of calculus concepts
G. Use the attached rubric to self-assess your project. Mark an X in the box labeled S (student) for the score that
you believe you deserve. The teacher will grade you using the boxes labeled T (teacher). Include this packet with
your write-ups.

This is an In Class project. Points will be deducted from your daily class participation grade if you are not
working on the project in class.

Examples for Creating Functions that are Differentiable at Transition Points