TO DESIGN AND CREATE A ROLLER COASTER THAT CAN BE USED TO ANALYZE THE ENERGY EXCHANGES INVOLVED IN SUCH A SYSTEM.

CHOICE OF MATERIALS IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE STUDENTS.

ALL MATERIALS ARE TO BE PROVIDED BY THE STUDENTS.

ALL CONSTRUCTION IS TO BE DONE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.

NO PREFABRICATED PARTS MAY BE USED

(i.e. HOTWHEELS TRACKS FOR WAL-MART).

EACH STUDENT WILL RESEARCH COASTER DESIGNS FROM LITERATURE OR ACTUAL STRUCTURES NOTING BRACING POINTS AND REINFORCEMENTS AND HOW EACH DESIGN TAKES INTO ACCOUNT GRAVITATIONAL AND LOAD FORCES AND THE MATERIALS USED.

EACH GROUP OF STUDENTS WILL THEN DESIGN AND BUILD A ROLLER COASTER

STUDENTS WILL KEEP DAILY JOURNALS REGARDING RESEARCH, RESULTS, CHANGES, AND THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

EACH JOURNAL WILL INCLUDE A PRELIMINARY AS WELL AS COMPLETED SKETCH OR DRAWING.

EACH COASTER MAY NOT EXCEED ONE METER IN HEIGHT OR LENGTH.

THE COASTER MUST BE FREE STANDING AND ATTACHED TO A BASE.

THERE IS NO WEIGHT LIMIT FOR THE COASTER BUT IT MUST BE PORTABLE.

THE TRACK MUST INCLUDE A LOOP AND A SECOND ELEVATION.

ANY DESIGN CAN BE USED AS LONG AS THE ROADBED IS FLAT AND UNOBSTRUCTED TO ALLOW A MATCHBOX CAR AND GOLF BALL TO TRAVEL ITS LENGTH.

EACH COASTER MUST FIRST ALLOW A MATCHBOX CAR AND THEN A GOLF BALL TO TRAVERSE THE ENTIRE TRACK SAFELY

A FRESH EGG WILL BE PLACED AT THE END OF EACH TRACK WHEN TESTED.

THE OBJECT IS TO COMPLETE THE TRACK WITHOUT FLIPPING UPSIDE DOWN AND SLOW DOWN ENOUGH NOT TO CRACK A FRESH EGG WAITING AT THE END.

EACH COASTER WILL BE RANKED USING A CHECKLIST FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE LISTED CRITERIA.

Height under 1 meter....5 pts

Freestanding on a base...5 pts

Contains a loop....10 pts

Contains a second elevation....10 pts

Ball traverses entire track safely....10 pts

Car traverses entire track safely....20 pts

Entries must be made each day....35 pts