Here are a few of the aspects of the project.
Independent Variable: The rise (the height of the ramp)
Dependent Variable: Whether or not the marble will loop the loop
Control Variable: The diameter of the loop, which is set at 12 inches
Hypothesis: If a rollercoaster's "rise" is higher, then the marble will be more likely to complete the loop because it will have more potential energy to convert to kinetic energy.
Materials:
-Foam pipe insulation
-Marbles
-Utility Knife
-Tape
-Tape Measure (I used a laser distance measure)
-Supports for the rollercoaster (books, cans, shelves, etc.)
Procedure:
1. Cut foam pipe insulation in half down its whole lenghth
2. Pick the diameter for the loop (mine is 12 inches)
3. Tape both ends of the insulation together
4. Curl the track into a loop
5. Raise the other end of the track to make a ramp (our hill)
6. Tape the top of the ramp to the support
7. Tape the loop to the floor
8. Measure the height of the ramp
9. Run 10 marbles down the ramp and record how many completed the loop
10. Change the height of the ramp
11. Repeat steps 8, 9, and 10 as many times as you need to
12. Gather and organize your information (while you do steps 8, 9, and 10)
Independent Variable: The rise (the height of the ramp)
Dependent Variable: Whether or not the marble will loop the loop
Control Variable: The diameter of the loop, which is set at 12 inches
Hypothesis: If a rollercoaster's "rise" is higher, then the marble will be more likely to complete the loop because it will have more potential energy to convert to kinetic energy.
Materials:
-Foam pipe insulation
-Marbles
-Utility Knife
-Tape
-Tape Measure (I used a laser distance measure)
-Supports for the rollercoaster (books, cans, shelves, etc.)
Procedure:
1. Cut foam pipe insulation in half down its whole lenghth
2. Pick the diameter for the loop (mine is 12 inches)
3. Tape both ends of the insulation together
4. Curl the track into a loop
5. Raise the other end of the track to make a ramp (our hill)
6. Tape the top of the ramp to the support
7. Tape the loop to the floor
8. Measure the height of the ramp
9. Run 10 marbles down the ramp and record how many completed the loop
10. Change the height of the ramp
11. Repeat steps 8, 9, and 10 as many times as you need to
12. Gather and organize your information (while you do steps 8, 9, and 10)