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ROLE DESCRIPTION —
The design engineer studies the principles of roller coasters to plan and
construct an artistic or architectural physical design.
Your task -
Visit the links below. Record your responses to each task. Read to
find details to complete the following:
 1.
Click here
and here
for information on wooden and steel coasters. Use Inspiration or
Microsoft Word to complete a Venn diagram or chart comparing the wooden
coaster and the tubular steel coaster. Use details from your reading to
explain why more tubular steel coasters are being built at amusement
parks.
2.
Go to the “How
Does…” link. Once there, click on the “Design a
Roller Coaster” yellow arrow. Proceed with all steps for your design.
Next, complete the following:
A. Why is the height and shape of the first hill important?
B. “Exit paths” are paths out of a hill or loop. What should be
considered when designing exit paths? Why?
C. The second hill should help maintain the thrill. How should
this hill be designed compared to the first hill? Why?
D. Why is the “teardrop”, elliptical loop, a much better design for
roller coasters than the “circle” loop design? Use the
“How Does..” , “What Goes Up...” ,
Roller-Coasters" link, and
“Feeling Loopy”
links for help.
3.
Imagine that you and a group of passengers are testing out a newly
constructed roller coaster. The slide down the first hill is thrilling, but
before you get to the top of the second hill, you start sliding backward and
get trapped between the first two hills. Using what you know about Newton’s
First Law of Motion, describe what the designer forgot to include in
transforming his creation from his plan on paper to the real world.
4.
Click the link here
to test a practice coaster design using a tool to put the science of
coasters to work. Click here
to cut and paste coaster elements such as batwings, camel
backs, tunnels, and corkscrews to design a thrilling ride. Think about the
design elements your team should consider for your roller coaster. Would
your team be interested in a "hypercoaster"? Click here to
view a Time.com photo essay of "hypercoasters". Find anything interesting?
5.
Click here to read details on a comparison chart of coasters.
The information on the chart came from the world's top ten fastest coasters,
as of 2004, at the
"Roller Coaster Database" Website. Click the database hyperlink on the
chart to record details for 2-3 more coasters. Scroll down to the 2nd page
of the chart to record the details.
Compare the design you want for your team's coaster to those on the chart.
Record the reasons why.
6.
Be ready to present and explain your findings to your team. You and your
team will use this information for the design of your ultimate scream
machine.
LINKS
Wooden or Steel Coaster? Does It Make A Difference?
What Goes Up Must Come Down
How Does A Roller Coaster Work?
Wooden and Steel
“Feeling Loopy”
"Roller-Coasters"
Practice Your Coaster Design
Coaster Inversion Elements
"Hypercoasters" - Time.com Photo Essay
Tech Effect
Rashida Betts
Instructional Coordinator and Tech Effect Teacher
Oxon Hill Middle School
9570 Fort Foote Rd.
Fort Washington, MD 20744
To contact us:
Phone: 301-749-4270
Fax: 301-749-4286
E-mail: rashida.betts@pgcps.org
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