LESSON DESCRIPTION:
Who would think that hot water pipe insulation could be so useful in teaching the physics of motion? Students use pieces of the pipe insulation, along with masking tape and marbles to build scale model roller coasters.

TIME REQUIRED: One Hour

OBJECTIVES:
Students can learn the about the concepts of potential and kinetic energy, as well as acceleration, friction, and gravity. They learn how gravitational potential energy can be converted into kinetic energy and then reconverted into gravitational potential energy. Students demonstrate numerous conversions of energy as their marbles travel through inversion loops, banked turns, and hills..

FACILITIES REQUIREMENTS:
This lesson can be done indoors or outdoors. Marble roller coasters need to be built on such things as tables, chairs, walls, fences, play structures, etc.

SAFETY:
In order to get a sufficient amount of potential energy into their roller coasters students will often stand on chairs. Standing on chairs is not permissible unless it happens under the close supervision of a teacher or instructor.

CALIFORNIA SCIENCE STANDARDS ALIGNMENT

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