Introduction
Introduction
What is your favorite ride at an amusement park? One of the most popular rides at any amusement park is the roller coaster. People are attracted to roller coasters because of the height, length, and speed at which roller coasters travel. Can you design a new coaster for Paramount Wonderland that will be original and creative, yet thrilling and exciting at the same time?
Task
Paramont Wonderland wants to build a new roller coaster, but needs to know what forces affect roller coasters in order to build a safe ride for its customers. You have been hired by Paramount wonderland to research information about forces and motion, and then to come up with an idea for a new coaster. After researching, you will test your coaster design ideas on specially designed websites. When you have finalized your design, you will submit this idea with a labeled sketch or drawing.
Process
STEP 1 Research about Forces and Motion
1. Go to "Understanding" to find out about what forces such as gravity and friction are. As you read, you must answer the following questions on your answer sheet. (worth 3 points each):
STEP 2 Experiments with Forces and Motion
Continue your research about forces and motion by completing three on line science experiments. Read through the directions carefully on each site, and then complete the activities.
1. Experiment #1 Pushes and Pulls
A simple demonstration of how pushes and pulls affect how far an object will travel.
• Click on the next website. Read through the directions at the top of the box. Don't forget to hit the light blue Reset button after each action you do.
• When finished with the whole activity, take the Quiz by pressing the yellow Quiz button near the bottom right hand corner of the demonstration box. Raise your hand when you are finished so that your teacher can record your score on your answer sheet . You may NOT record your own score on your answer sheet. This quiz is worth 10 total points.
2. Experiment #2 Forces and Movement
• Click on the next website. Read through the directions at the top of the box. Don't forget to hit the light blue Reset button after each action you do.
• When finished, take the Quiz by pressing the yellow Quiz button near the bottom right hand corner of the demonstration box. Raise your hand when you are finished so that your teacher can record your score on your answer sheet. You may NOT record your own score on your answer sheet. This quiz is worth 10 total points.
3. Experiment #3 Friction
• Click on the next website. Read through the directions at the top of the box. Don't forget to hit the light blue Reset button after each action you do.
• When finished, take the Quiz by pressing the yellow Quiz button near the bottom right hand corner of the demonstration box. Raise your hand when you are finished so that your teacher can record your score on your answer sheet. You may NOT record your own score on your answer sheet. This quiz is worth 10 total points.
STEP 3 Test Your Knowledge
Before you can begin to think about your roller coaster design, you will do some web activities to increase your knowledge about the requirements of a roller coaster from a physics standpoint. Each activity is worth 1 point. Follow these steps:
1. Activity 1 Design a Roller Coaster
Go to the next website. Read and scroll down the page and click on the graphic that says, "Design a Roller Coaster." You must work on this activity until your coaster is correctly constructed. You will know it is correct when you get two thumbs up. Go back and make changes if you do not get it right the first time. Once you get two thumbs up, your coaster is complete. Raise your hand and show your teacher your score. Then you are ready to move onto activity.
2. Activity 2 Funderstanding Roller Coaster
Hint: The first hill must be the tallest one.
Go to the next website. This site loads very slowly, so you will need to be patient! Make adjustments to the current coaster using the buttons. Once you create a coaster that is able to make it through the loop, your coaster is complete. Raise your hand and show your teacher your coaster. Then you are ready to move onto activity 3.
3. Activity 3 Make Tracks
Go to the next website to build and test your roller coaster. Once you have gotten your coaster to go all the way through and the coaster train car to stay on the track, your coaster is complete and you are ready to begin step 4. Be sure to raise your hand and show your teacher your completed coaster before moving on to the next step.
4. Activity 4 Build a Disney Coaster
Go to the website and build a Disney Coaster. Design a fun coaster that is also safe!
STEP 4 Design Your Coaster
Now that you have successfully researched and understand about forces such as gravity and friction, you will apply what you have learned to designing a roller coaster. You will draw a sketch of the track layout and train design for your roller coaster. In the first space, draw the complete track layout. It should be very neat. In the second space, draw a close up of the roller coaster train. It should also be very neat. Label parts of your drawings to make them very clear to your teacher. You may use any of the websites in STEP 3 to help you design your coaster.
Your sketch is worth 31 total points. Remember to include the following on your sketch:
• Your name
• The name of your roller coaster
• A labeled drawing or sketch of the roller coaster and coaster train. Include a key if needed.
• Be neat!
Evaluation
This WebQuest is worth a maximum of 100 points. The points can be earned as follows:
• The Research questions (36 points)
• Online Quizzes (30 points)
• The Activities (3 points)
• The Coaster Sketch (31 points)
Conclusion
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE READY TO BECOME A ROLLER COASTER ENGINEER
You have learned a great deal about motion and the forces that act upon it. You are going to use your knowledge to design and build a roller coaster with your partner. Maybe you will create the largest roller coaster in the world someday!!