Roller Coaster

Division: Div B – Middle School

NC Essential Standards Alignment: Science as Inquiry, 7.P.2, PSc.1.1., Phy.1.1, Phy.1.2

Event Rules: See the National Rules Manual

Event Score Sheet: Coming Soon

National Event Page: Here

Clarifications:

We can’t promise that the table and floor are level at the competitions. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the team members to check the area and level their device as needed. It is permissible to run the device on the floor and/or to put shims under the legs of the table to make it level.

Also, we are seeing kits that consist of several layers of track. The ones with interlocking pieces that form a large surface, make it impossible for the judges to see the sphere at all times when these layers are stacked on one another. Make sure the sphere is visible at all times.

Description:

Prior to the competition, teams design, build, and test a Roller Coaster track to guide a ball/sphere that uses gravitational potential energy as its sole means of propulsion to travel as close as possible to a Target Time.

Materials:

Participants must bring and impound one Roller Coaster (a track that guides a ball/sphere), at least one ball/sphere, tools, spare parts, and appropriate logs before the start of the competition. Participants may bring and impound additional balls/spheres, but only one will be used during a given run. Participants must properly wear eye protection at all times. Participants without proper eye protection must be immediately informed and given a chance to obtain eye protection if time allows. Participants without eye protection will not compete and will be ranked in Tier 4. The Event Supervisor will provide an unsharpened #2 pencil with an unused eraser, all measurement tools for scoring purposes, and timers.

Scoring:

Highest final score wins. The higher of the 2 run scores is used as the final score.

Common Mistakes:

Get your device in Tier 1 by measuring the device size correctly and being sure to meet the Construction Parameters.

FAQs

Can copper wire be used? Yes, but no electricity.

Are funnels allowed? Funnels can be used as long as we can see the sphere at all times. The sphere must go through the bottom of the funnel at a short enough distance that the judges can see it at all times.

Event Resources:

Paper Roller Coasters – check it out HERE.

Building Roller Coasters

Roller Coaster 2018 Coaches Clinic Presentation (2019 rules)