Unit 4 Summative Project: Roller Coaster Engineering Challenge

In this summative project, you will design, build, and analyze a working roller coaster using foam tubing and duct tape. Your goal is not just to make the marble complete the track, but to prove how energy changes throughout the system using measurements, calculations, graphs, and physics reasoning from the entire Energy Unit.

Big Idea

A roller coaster is a real-world energy system. As the marble moves, gravitational potential energy changes into kinetic energy, mechanical energy shifts throughout the track, and some energy leaves the system because of friction, sound, vibration, and deformation. Your job is to show where that energy goes and explain why.

Concepts Assessed
  • Potential Energy — Height determines stored gravitational energy
  • Work and the Work-Energy Theorem — Non-conservative forces change mechanical energy
  • Kinetic Energy — Speed determines motion energy
  • Conservation of Energy — Energy is transferred, not destroyed
Engineering Design Challenge

Build a roller coaster that allows a marble to travel from start to finish using only its initial gravitational potential energy.

Required Track Features
  • One initial hill that is the highest point
  • At least 2 additional hills
  • At least 1 curve or turn
  • Total track length of at least 1.5 meters
  • Track must be self-supporting
Materials
  • Foam tubing
  • Duct tape
  • Marble
  • Meter stick or ruler
  • Phone or camera for video analysis
Performance Requirement
  • The marble must start from rest
  • The marble must complete the entire track
  • The design must rely on gravity, not a push after release
Required Data Collection

Identify at least 4 key points along your roller coaster. These should include the starting point and three additional important locations such as the bottom of the first hill, the top of a smaller hill, or the final section of the track.

At Each Point, Measure or Determine:
  • Height above the reference point
  • Speed of the marble
  • Gravitational potential energy
  • Kinetic energy
  • Total mechanical energy
Physics Analysis
1. Potential Energy

Use PE = mgh to calculate gravitational potential energy at each selected point. Explain how the height of the marble affects the amount of stored energy in the system.

2. Kinetic Energy

Use KE = 1/2 mv² to calculate kinetic energy at each selected point. Identify where the marble has the greatest kinetic energy and explain why.

3. Work-Energy Theorem

Compare the total mechanical energy at the start to the total mechanical energy later in the track. Use the changes to discuss how non-conservative forces did work on the system.

4. Conservation of Energy

Explain why energy is not destroyed even when the marble slows down or fails to return to the original height. Describe where the “missing” energy went.

Required Graphs
  • Graph 1: Height vs. Gravitational Potential Energy
  • Graph 2: Speed vs. Kinetic Energy

Be sure each graph includes a title, labeled axes, units, and an appropriate scale. After each graph, write 2–3 sentences describing the pattern you observe.

Final Submission Requirements
1. Photos

Submit clear photos of your completed roller coaster with your key measurement points labeled.

2. Data Table

Include all measured heights, speeds, and your energy calculations for every required point.

3. Graphs

Submit both required graphs with labels, units, and written interpretation.

4. Written Analysis

Respond to the analysis questions using complete sentences and clear physics reasoning.

Written Analysis Questions
  1. At which point did your coaster have the greatest potential energy? Why?
  2. At which point did your coaster have the greatest kinetic energy? Why?
  3. How did the marble’s height affect its speed throughout the track?
  4. Did your total mechanical energy stay perfectly constant? Explain why or why not.
  5. What non-conservative forces affected your system?
  6. Where did the “missing” energy go?
  7. If you redesigned your coaster, what changes would improve its performance and reduce energy losses?
Suggested Grading Breakdown
CategoryPointsFocus
Design and Completion20Meets build constraints and functions successfully
Data Collection20Complete and accurate measurements
Calculations20Correct use of formulas and units
Graphs15Accuracy, labels, and interpretation
Analysis and Explanation25Depth of physics reasoning and clarity
Challenge Statement

Your roller coaster should do more than just work. It should tell the story of energy moving through a system. Use your design, calculations, and explanations to prove that the physics of Unit 4 is happening every step of the way.

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