Introduction
Tired
of the same old roller coasters? Well,
here’s your chance to change things! The
executives at King’s Dominion are looking for new, innovative coaster ideas. They have asked your team to design and build
a prototype for their consideration to add to the amusement park. Good luck on your journey, and remember, your
coaster must be safe as well thrilling!
Task
You
have been assigned a group with four people with which to work. Your task will be to gather and share
information that you will use to design and build a prototype roller coaster
for
Resources
Some
resources you may use for this task include:
·
PowerPoint
·
Word
·
Any links
contained in this Web Quest
·
Encyclopedias
·
Science Textbook
·
Periodicals
·
Color Printer
·
Paint / Draw
Process
Step
1 (8pts. total, 2pts. per role)
Each
person should assume one of the following roles.
Coaster
Historian
You
will be responsible for gathering information on the history of roller
coasters. You will need to research
roller coasters using http://search.eb.com/coasters/
and National
Amusement Park Historical Association: Industry History
(http://www.glencoe.com/sec/science/cgi-bin/splitwindow.cgi?top=http://www.glencoe.com/sec/science/top2.html&link=http://www.napha.org/history.html). Create
a timeline and include a description of each of the major contributions described
at the: the Russian Mountains, the Mauch Chunk
Switchback Railway, Coney Island, the Golden Age, Rebirth and Coasters of the
Future.
Scientist
Historian
Your
job is to research and write a short biography about La Marcus Thompson, John
Miller, Harry Traver, John Allen, and Ron Toomer. These
scientists can be found at http://search.eb.com/coasters/. Be sure to include a picture of each
scientist with your biography so that your group members will be able to see
what each scientist looks like. You can
draw your own picture or capture other pictures from the website to include in
your biography.
Physics
Terms Expert
You will need to become an
expert in the topics of kinetic energy, potential energy, centripetal force,
gravity and
And Newton's Three Laws of
Motion at http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/newton3laws.html. You will also need to find out about speed,
velocity and inertia. You will find
these terms at The Physics Classroom http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/1DKin/U1L1d.html. Other
resources you could use include http://www.sunblock99.org.uk/sb99/people/RWalsh/gravity/grav1.html. You will need
to create a Pictionary for these terms.
Each page should include the term, definition and an illustration of the
term. You will also need to prepare and
present a short example for the other group members so that they are able to
understand and apply the concepts that you have presented.
Current Roller Coaster Researcher
Your job is to make sure your roller coaster is
unique. To do this you will have to
research the types of roller coasters that are in
Paramount Kings Dominion http://www.kingsdominion.com/attractions/category.cfm?ac_id=13
Six Flags
http://www.sixflags.com/parks/america/Rides/list.html
http://www.buschgardens.com/buschgardens/va/ar_appollo_chariot.aspx
http://www.buschgardens.com/buschgardens/va/ar_alpengeist.aspx
http://www.buschgardens.com/buschgardens/va/ar_big_bad_wolf.aspx
http://www.buschgardens.com/buschgardens/va/ar_loch_ness_monster.aspx
Step 2 (None)
After each group member has completed the research
and created the individual work, your team will need share the information each
member has gained. You should share your
work in such a way so that all team members are able to teach the topics to
others after you are done. The format
you choose in which to share is up to you.
Step 3 (3pts. total, 1 pt. per simulation) **JAVA Applet plug in needed
Now you will be able to experiment with roller
coaster designs and see how the different components work together. Use the following links to design your
coasters. Print your coaster design
immediately after satisfactorily completing each design, and turn it in to the
teacher. Make sure that you have put
your name, block, and date on each printout.
www.Funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/
www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/coaster.html
Step 4 (4pts.)
After you have experienced the simulations and shared
your designs, you will need to put the information all together. Answer the following questions as a
group. You may copy the questions onto
notebook paper, or copy and paste them into Word and then type your
answers. If you use Word,
remember to put all group member names at the top and turn it in to your
teacher.
1. Describe the coasters that are popular at King’s
Dominion,
2. What types of roller coasters do Six Flags and
3. Using your research, discuss and describe the type of
roller coaster you think King’s Dominion should have. Make suggestions for the speed, height,
length and shape of the coaster.
4. Brainstorm a theme for your coaster and give it a
name.
5. Briefly describe the colors and style you would use
for your coaster. Be sure to include the
type of trains/cars you would use and how they would look.
6. Why do you think this ride would be popular at King’s
Dominion?
7. What about the ride would make you want to ride it?
8. Discuss and summarize how this new coaster would
bring more people to King’s Dominion than the other parks, and how this will
help King’s Dominion compete with the other two parks.
Step 5 (5pts.)
In this step you will draft your design. Begin by using the answers to your questions
and make a sketch of what your coaster will look like. Include the hills, loops exit paths, etc. and
your decorate it using your theme ideas.
You may need to make several drafts, or find that you are erasing a lot
as you work through this process. Work
on your draft until your team has agreed on the final product.
Step 6 (10 pts.)
Now it is time to build your prototype. Make a materials list first. Remember that you will need a pliable but
supportive material for the tracks, which will need to bend and turn. Make vehicle choices appropriate to your
track choices, and remember that you will also need materials to help you
decorate using your theme. When your
materials list is complete, build your prototype and run your car to make sure
that your design works. Don’t be
discouraged if your car falls off the track, you may need to adjust several
times. Also remember that things often
work slightly differently in real life than in theory.
Step 7 (None)
Present your roller coaster to the class. You will pretend that the rest of the class
is the executives at King’s Dominion and you have to convince them that your
coaster will attract more people to the park.
Make sure to describe the design elements you chose and why you chose
them. Emphasize the theme and why you
think this will be exciting to people.
Remember, you are trying to sell a product, so be persuasive. You may choose any presentation format you
like, be creative!
Format Suggestions
·
PowerPoint
presentations
·
Multimedia
Presentations
·
Story Board and
Model