Potential and Kinetic Energy: The Roller Coaster Lab

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

This Potential and Kinetic Energy: The Roller Coaster Lab lesson plan also includes:

Ron Toomer, a famous roller coaster designer, suffered from motion sickness. Pupils design their own roller coasters, learning about potential and kinetic energy in the process. Labs focus on the importance of drop height, energy dissipation, and creating loops.

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CCSS: Adaptable NGSS: Adaptable

Concepts

potential energy, kinetic energy, frictional force, centripetal force, normal force, newton's laws of motion, conservation of momentum, the law of conservation of energy, energy, thermal energy, friction

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

If time allows, combine groups to create one massive rollercoaster

Classroom Considerations

For the most effective track, tape the insulation in as many places as possible
Requires a large amount of space, including plenty of wall space to complete the labs

Pros

Offers a basic lesson as well as an advanced version that includes frictional force, centripetal force, and normal force
Includes higher-level analysis questions