Model Roller Coaster Design

1.  TO BUILD A LOOP OR A HILL:

1. Cut a 7.5 cm (3 inch) wide strip of paper.

2. Draw two parallel lines that divide it into three 2.5 cm-wide strips.

3. Make marks every 2.5 cm along the long edges of the paper.

4. Cut inward 2.5 cm from these marks to form tabs.

5. Fold the tabs up 90 degrees.

6. Bend the track into the shape you want, and tape the tabs together to hold it in place. This step is easier with two people, one to hold the track in place and one to do the taping.

4.  TO BUILD A CURVE:

1. Cut a 7.5 cm (3 inch) wide strip of paper.

2. Draw two parallel lines that divide it into three 2.5 cm-wide strips.

3. Make marks every 2.5 cm along one long edge of the paper.

4. Cut inward 5 cm (2 inches) from these marks.

5. Fold up the uncut side of the paper 90 degrees to form a wall.

6. Fold up the tabs on the other side to form the other wall.

7. Since the bottom portion of the track is cut into segments, you can bend it horizontally to form a curve. Tape the tabs together to hold the curve in place.

5.  TO BUILD A SUPPORT STRUT:

1. Cut a 6.25 cm (2.5 inch) wide strip of paper.

2. Draw four parallel lines that divide it into five 1.25 cm (0.5 inch) wide strips.

3. Cut inward 2.5 cm along these lines from one edge.

4. Fold along the lines to form a square shape (so two of the segments overlap), and use tape to hold in place.

5. Fold the tabs you cut at the end outward. This will allow you to tape the tabs flat to a piece of cardboard, so your strut can stand upright

Roller Coaster Model

Step by Step Instructions

PREP WORK

1. Before you try building an entire roller coaster, practice building the individual track segments. You can print this template and cut out the pieces, or follow the instructions to draw your own with a pencil and ruler.

2. To build a straight segment:

1. Cut a 7.5 cm (3 inch) wide strip of paper.

2. Draw two parallel lines that divide it into three 2.5 cm-wide strips.

3. Fold the two sides up 90 degrees along those lines to form walls.

PROCEDURE

1. Before you start building, plan out a design for your roller coaster. Draw your design on paper. Figure out how many supports and pieces of track you will need. Make sure your marble starts at the top of a hill.

2. Using a piece of corrugated cardboard as a base, assemble your track according to your plan. Tape the track segments together end-to-end to connect them.

3. Place the marble at the top of your track and let it go. Watch carefully.

4.  If your marble didn't make it to the end, try to figure out why. Is there a spot in your track where the marble got stuck? Was the marble going too slow to make it through a loop? If necessary, make changes to your design, like making the curves more gradual or the starting hill taller, and try again.

What Happened?

If you made your starting hill tall enough, and all the curves and loops of your roller coaster were gradual, your marble should have been able to get all the way to the end. However, if your coaster had any sharp turns or corners, your marble might have gotten stuck. If you tried to have your marble go up a hill or through a loop that was taller than the hill it started on, it wouldn't make it all the way through. Why not? It is all about energy! Read the Digging Deeper section to learn more about the physics behind roller coasters.