======Roller Coaster Efficiency======


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**Alternative titles:** Marble Roller Coaster
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Design a roller coaster track foam pipe or plastic tubing.  
  - See links below for ways to calculate energy and determine efficiency. 




====Links==== 
Lab - Energy (Rollercoaster) - Part 1 - Set Up - Penndale Science: 
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📄 Roller Coaster Physics: [[https://www.eriesd.org/cms/lib/PA01001942/Centricity/Domain/1397/Roller%20Coaster%20Lab.pdf]]\\

📄 Build a Paper Roller Coaster - Ben Finio: [[https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/paper-roller-coaster]]\\


====Variations====
  * Build tracks with loops, jumps, or spirals to see how they affect velocity.  
  * Compare different starting heights to measure changes in potential and kinetic energy.  
  * Use marbles of different masses to explore how mass influences motion.  
  * Introduce frictional surfaces to simulate real roller coaster resistance.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Do not stand on tables or desks while setting up the track.  
  * Keep the workspace clear of obstacles and tripping hazards.  
  * Ensure the marble path is safe and does not launch the marble toward people or fragile objects.




====Questions to Consider====
  * What is potential energy? (Stored energy due to an object’s position or height.)  
  * What is kinetic energy? (The energy of motion.)  
  * How does the height of the starting point affect the marble’s speed? (Greater height increases potential energy, which converts to more kinetic energy and higher speed.)  
  * Where on the track does the marble move the fastest? (At the lowest point where potential energy is minimized and kinetic energy is maximized.)  
  * How could friction and air resistance affect your results? (They reduce the total energy converted into motion, slowing the marble.)  
  * What real-world factors influence roller coaster design? (Friction, air drag, material strength, safety limits, and energy conservation.)