INTEGRATING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) INTO THE HOME ENVIRONMENT
Rollercoaster
ENGINEERING TASK
A local amusement park has asked you to design their next roller coaster. You decide to design a prototype suitable for a marble to travel from the start to the finish. You will use the prototype during your presentation to the local amusement park.
MATERIALS IN KIT
- Multiple strips of cardstock paper
- Scissors
- Tape
- Marble
- Other household objects
DID YOU KNOW?
Engineers design and work on a team to build theme park rides and attractions that are safe, yet fun for guests like you. Engineers at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida make between $67,000 and $110,000 a year.
About how many Mickey Mouse hats ($30) could you buy if you made $67,000 a year?
STEP 1—RESEARCH
We encourage you to research roller coasters for inspiration. Most have a theme—Space Mountain and the Incredible Hulk are two examples. Write down things you notice during your research.
STEP 2—PLAN
Let’s think through the following for your design. Don’t forget to take notes.
- What is the theme of your roller coaster? Why?
What artistic element might you add? - How tall? How long?
- How many turns, curves, and/or loops, if any?
- How will you support the structure?
STEP 2—PLAN
Now that you have some general design features written down, draw a sketch.
Describe your process for creating your prototype. What is the first step?
STEP 3
CREATE roller coaster tracks and BUILD on a flat surface!
STEP 3—CREATE & BUILD FOLDING TECHNIQUE—TRACK
Take 1 strip of paper and fold into thirds. To join tracks, overlap one end of a track to the end of another track. Use tape to attach the two tracks.
STEP 3—CREATE & BUILD FOLDING TECHNIQUE—LOOP, CURVE, HILL, AND MORE
Take 1 strip of paper and fold into thirds. Cut slits of on both sides—not the track. The slits can be of any size, but should be similar or consistent. Fold as desired and use tape as needed.
STEP 3—CREATE & BUILD FOLDING TECHNIQUE
STEP 3—CREATE & BUILD FOLDING TECHNIQUE
STEP 3—CREATE & BUILD FOLDING TECHNIQUE
STEP 3—CREATE
DESIGN YOUR OWN FOLDING TECHNIQUE
Create your own folding technique or design to add to your roller coaster.
STEP 3—CREATE & BUILD FOLDING TECHNIQUE—SUPPORT
Take 1 strip of paper and fold into fourths length-wise. Make a triangular prism by overlapping two of the fourths.
STEP 3—CREATE & BUILD FOLDING TECHNIQUE—SUPPORT
You can also make a rectangular prism using 2 strips of paper and folding both into fourths. Which support—triangular prism or rectangular prism—will provide more stability? Why?
STEP 3—CREATE & BUILD FOLDING TECHNIQUE—SUPPORT
What do you notice about securing the supports to a base (e.g., table, cardboard)? Why is this an important step?
STEP 4—TEST & IMPROVE
Pause! For each test or trial, write down what happened or ask a parent/caregiver to write this information down. What went well or not so well? What did you change based on your observations? Remember the marble is to travel from the beginning to the end multiple times.
STEP 4—EXTENSION
How might the failures during testing be based on physics?
DID YOU KNOW…
The first roller coaster in America opened at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York on June 16, 1884. It traveled approximately six miles per hour and cost a nickel to ride.
Kingda Ka is one of the world’s tallest (456 feet) and fastest (128 miles per hour) roller coasters. Yet, it may be one of the shortest at 50.6 seconds.
The longest roller coaster is the Steel Dragon 2000 at 8,000 feet long. The duration of the ride is 4:00 minutes.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED…
Do more research about roller coasters around the world.
- What rollercoaster has the most loops? How many? What country is it located?
- Are you more likely to get injured from falling off a bed or riding a roller coaster? Explain.
- Where is the fastest rollercoaster in the world? How fast does it travel?
- Why are there height restrictions on who can ride roller coasters?
- True or False: Four men rode 74 rollercoasters in 10 theme parks in just one day.