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What makes roller coasters go so fast?
Energizing Everything Unit | Lesson 2 of 5

What makes roller coasters go so fast?

Energizing Everything Unit | Lesson 2 of 5
Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep

DISCUSS:

How do roller coaster cars move if they don’t have an engine? (Where do they get their energy from?)

If you need a natural stopping point!

Teachers: If you are short on time, this is a good stopping point. We recommend leaving your students' tracks set up so they can get right to experimenting at the start of the next session.

If you’re continuing right now, advance to the next slide.

If you need a natural stopping point!

Teachers: If you are short on time, this is a good stopping point. The next experiment will require your students to get additional marbles.

If you’re continuing right now, advance to the next slide.

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energy


1 of 10

the ability to do an action
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gravity


2 of 10

an invisible force that pulls any object down, toward the Earth
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gravitational energy (height energy)


3 of 10

energy that is due to gravity
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speed


4 of 10

how fast something is moving

collision


5 of 10

when one object hits or crashes into another object

energy transfer


6 of 10

when energy travels from one place to another

sound energy


7 of 10

energy that is in the form of sound that can be heard
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experiment


8 of 10

a test used to discover new information about a question
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model


9 of 10

a pretend version of something that scientists use when the real thing is too big, small, or complicated to work with
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trials


10 of 10

repeated tests in an experiment
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Featured Reviews

“The class really enjoyed making and using the bumper coaster. It did a great job of illustrating the changes in energy due to height”
“The experiment went well for the most part. The track was delicate and didn't always work the way it was planned, but it caused my students to figure out solutions to fix the problems. The overall objective of understanding why the greater the height of a roller coaster, the more potential energy is stored was achieved.”
“the activity! it is so great! got us to do craft wlile learning!!! thank you all!!!!!”
Lesson narration:

Grade 4

Energy & Energy Transfer

Gravitational Energy, Speed, & Collisions

4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-3

Activity Prep

Print Prep
THIS LESSON WAS REVISED ON JULY 1, 2019. Here is a link to the previous version.
In this lesson, students explore how energy can be stored as height. In the activity, Bumper Coasters (Part I), students build paper roller coasters. Students release marbles down the roller coaster track to understand height energy and energy transfer.
Preview activity

Exploration

12 mins

Wrap-Up

3 mins

Grade 4

Energy & Energy Transfer

Gravitational Energy, Speed, & Collisions

4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-3

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Energy Lesson 2: What makes roller coasters go so fast?

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