The Process

1. Meet with your team. Decide what responsibilities each team member will have.
2. Write a list of questions you might need answered in order to design a rollercoaster.
3. Research the history of rollercoaster's in America and the various successful rollercoaster designs used in many amusement parks today.
4. Brainstorm ideas about the design you wish to create for your rollercoaster.
5. Decide on a design and create a construction plan and a sketch of the rollercoaster. Remember to decide on a theme and a name for your rollercoaster.
6. Calculate Theoretical Values for your roller coasters, maximum velocity, energy, slope, and height.
7. Build a 3-dimensional model of your design.
8. Test your model to see if it meets the criteria set forth by the President of the North Rockland Amusement Park
   • If your model does not meet the criteria, repeat steps 6 thru 8 until it meets the criteria.
   • If your model does meet the criteria move on to step 9.
9. Plan and create a multimedia presentation to the Board of Directors to "sell" your design.
10. Present your multimedia presentation

Notes for the Teacher

Interdisciplinary Connections:

• Language Arts
• Social Studies: geography (locating different amusement parks)
• Visual and Performing Arts: architecture, presenting

Length of Lesson: 4-8 weeks (depending on how often the students receive science instruction)

Materials:

• Various construction materials to build the 3-dimensional model
• Multimedia presentation software

Prerequisite Learning: Students should have a basic understanding of kinetic & potential energy, force, & motion

Suggestions:

1. Print out the student components of this project and include them in the student's journal.
2. Be prepared to support students in the following areas:
   • Using various resources
   • Organizing groups and tasks
   • Considering the principles of physics and ride safety when designing the rollercoster
   • Considering the rules of good design when creating their presentations
3. Visit an amusement park in your area before, during or after this project.