Website Thrill Ride Investigation

Website Thrill Ride Investigation

Explore some of the websites given by the teacher to answer the questions. You may find it easier and quicker to use the Mr. Braunsdorf's Blog. Then click on the link.

It's a good idea to read the questions, then check out the sites. You won't necessarily find all of the answers in one place or in order. You may even already know some of the answers. You need to THINK! Do check out the sites in order. You can always go back if needed. Remember to answer the questions as you go along!

How Stuff Works - Roller Coasters  - This site is great for answering loads of questions about roller coasters and related topics. Be sure to use the animated demonstration of kinetic and potential energy transfer.

The Jason Project, from National Geographic is a great site that will walk you through how to design a coaster, or let you experiment with it. This one needs Flash enabled, so if it won't work, that's why.

Learner.org's Park Physics is a good interactive site. It lets you design a simulated coaster and test it. It will even tell you what's wrong so you can fix it. Be sure to read the information, too!

1. What has to happen first in a typical roller coaster? (You might remember from the rides we built last time.)

2. Why do most roller coasters start out with a hill? (Use the vocabulary.)

3. What happens to the energy as the ride goes along? (In other words, what does friction do to the energy?)

4. What are some of the things that make a thrill ride fun (thrilling)?

5. What are some things that make a ride unsafe? (Use examples from the websites.)

6. What are some things that make a ride safer? (Use examples from the websites.)

7. What makes a loop possible?

8. What is the best shape for a loop and why?

9. Draw a sketch of one of the rides that you made on a website today that was unsuccessful. Explain why it was unsuccessful.



10. Draw a sketch of one of the rides that you made on a website today that was successful.

More Websites:

Discovery Kids Video

Discovery Kids Build-a-Coaster - fun site, though a bit unrealistic. Think about what is unrealistic in this one.

PBS Kids has another way to design a coaster.

Click here to learn more, play around with friction and speed, and build a coaster.