Paper Coaster

How do we build grit and craftsmanship in ourselves and our community through the lens of physics and making?

How will the transformation of energy impact a marble as it travels through a rolling ball sculpture?

Our students explored the Law of Conservation of Energy by constructing marble roller coasters out of 12 gauge galvanized steel wire. Through the construction and design process, our students explored the dynamic nature of energy and performed calculations to determine how much kinetic energy, potential energy and velocity the marble possessed at each significant moment in their roller coasters.

This project is a hands-on exploration of energy. Students will meld art, physics, mathematics and elements of design and engineering to build a rolling ball sculpture. The purpose of the sculpture is for students themselves to design a model that illustrates how energy transforms when an object is presented with different circumstances related to mass, height and velocity. Engineers and artists will be given all the necessary tools, materials and content to design a 3 foot tall and 4 foot wide marble track that successfully transports a marble from the beginning to the end that is designed and constructed completely by hand. In addition, students will perform calculations at different points on their sculpture in order to explain how it functions at those specific location.