Class Response- Rollercoasters

This past week, we have been given the challenge to create our own roller coasters or skate parks out of provided items. These items include paper towel rolls, tape, water bottles, and other recyclables. In addition, part of the challenge, also happens to be the time restraint, we have only three class periods to complete this. Above all, however, the main focus of this project is not to complete a flimsy, weak roller coaster; on the other hand, we must make a roller coaster that includes at least one hill, and one other element, such as a loop or bend. In order to make this, we must think about Isaac Newton's three laws of motion. For example, in order to receive the force to move our marble through the entire roller coaster, we must keep in mind the mass of the marble, to receive the proper acceleration. This displays Newton's second law, F= MA, or force equals mass times acceleration. In addition, in the roller coaster, we consider Newton's first law of motion, that without any force or change in velocity, the mass will not move. This relates to the project because if we don't a certain speed ,which can be acquired by a hill or loop, the marble will come to a stop. Lastly, Newton's third law of motion is being used, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. For instance, in our project, if the marble hits a wall, exerting a force onto the wall, the wall will exert the exact same force onto the marble, causing it to move backwards. As you can see, making a roller coaster is no small project, and requires much thinking about the laws of motion.