Does the amount of a roller coaster's energy change as it goes along the track? Scholars investigate when a roller coaster has potential and kinetic energy. They observe the changes as it goes up the initial hill follows it throughout the rest of the hills on the ride.

Concepts

energy conservation, kinetic energy, potential energy, velocity

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Build a small coaster in the classroom using pool noodles and ping pong balls

Classroom Considerations

• Requires a free CK-12 account to access the interactive resource
• May not work in the Chrome browser

Pros

• Includes analysis questions after the simulation
• Offers hints if students give incorrect answers

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.4 RST.9-10.4 RST.11-12.4