MCH physics students experienced exciting twists and turns and
used their creativity during the recent roller coaster project at Methodist
Children’s Home School. Teacher Angie Hammond developed the hands-on project as
a way to teach her students the concepts of force, motion and energy.
For the project, students were challenged to create a
thrilling roller coaster that will satisfy customers of Six Flags amusement
park who wish for more exciting rides.
The students worked as a group to design a roller coaster and prepare a
presentation for a team of scientists serving as Six Flags’ Board of Directors.
Students created their roller coasters using pipe insulation
and tested out the tracks using a marble. The marble must stay on the track
throughout the ride and come to a complete stop at the end. The team calculated
the speed, acceleration, potential and kinetic energy on various spots on the
track. Each team came up with a creative design incorporating twists, turns and
loops to complete a thrilling ride.
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