Phineas and Ferb: Rollercoaster

For day two of our Phineas and Ferb: Rollercoaster study we did the Introductory Design Challenge in the Physics of Roller Coaster lesson plan found here.  First we learned some new vocabulary words: potential energy (PE), kinetic energy (KE), gravity, gravitational potential energy, and elastic potential energy. Then we got to work on the challenge to learn how some of these forces work.  

Supplies: foam pipe insulation tubes (cut in half), masking tape, glass marbles, measuring tape, paper and pencil, a plastic bowl and whatever else the kids find they need to make it work

The Challenge:  Design a ramp for a marble to travel on that will allow the marble to jump the 

greatest distance possible to land in a bowl.

Rules: The marble must complete the ramp before jumping off.  You can not use human force to get your marble started on the ramp. The distance of the jump is measured when the marble leaves the ramp 

(from the end of the ramp to the cup).

The kids had about 30 minutes to work on this and come up with the best ramp possible.  The foam pipe insulation tubes are really great for this project- they can be bent, curved and even looped.  

The kids went through several trials and measured each one. 

We discussed their strategy for each change they made along the way.

We finished the lesson with a question and answer session based on what they learned today.  

Q: What makes your marble move on your ramp?  Is there anything pulling your marble?
gravity

Q: How did you make your marble jump further?
steeper, more curve

Q: Do you know what stored energy is called?
potential energy

Q: Do you know what energy in motion is called?
kinetic energy

Q: Do you know what type of potential energy is being demonstrated by your design?
gravitational potential energy

Q: Why do roller coasters begin with a really high hill and then continue with smaller hills, 
loops and turns?
because there is more potential energy at the top of the first big hill