Roller Coaster
This is one of the physics science projects that you can do all by yourself, but ask for help if carpentry needs to be done.
You will need the following materials:
An old toy race car track (Or its design. Make sure it's the kind with a roller coaster loop.)
Plywood and power tools (If the toy race track is unavailable.)
several toy cars, trucks that fit in the track snugly
small metal weights
pencil
notebook
a weighing scale
stopwatch
Instructions:
If you do not have an old toy race track, ask one of your parents for help to build one out of plywood. Simply get the dimensions of the race track, and create a single loop track out of the plywood.
Once the track is completed, you can begin weighing your cars and trucks.
Weigh each car and truck and assign a letter to each one. Make notes of these on your notebook.
Test each car on the roller coaster tracks, making sure it is able to complete the upside down loop. Time with your stopwatch the minimum time it took each car to finish the track or the loop. Some cars may have to go faster. Make notes on your notebook.
Add a metal weight to each car and weigh the cars again. Then, run them through the coaster again. How fast did it have to go this time in order to complete the loop?
Why do some cars fall from the loop? Can you solve the falling problem by increasing the car's speed? Why?
Concept Explanation:
Most physics science projects have more than one variable that can affect the experiment, just as in this one. The loop in the car tracks mimmicks the loops we see in many roller coasters. Cars and trucks of a certain weight are able to complete the loop given a certain speed, and therefore the loop is completed in a specific amount of time (that's why you time each one).
When you add weights to the cars, they will have to go at a faster speed in order to complete the loop. You need more speed with heavier objects so that the centripetal force which allows the car to stick to the track will have enough pull on the object. Roller coasters use the same theory, which is why they go very fast!
