Nebraska Career Information System

Industrial, Manufacturing and Engineering Systems Career Field

Design a Roller Coaster Learning Activity

Overview

Construction Design is a hands-on activity to help students learn about some of the work related to the Industrial, Manufacturing, and Engineering Systems career field. One of the objectives of the activity is to provide the opportunity for students to do work tasks and then to reflect upon those tasks. The exploration activity is set up to be completed in one class period. The activity could used to introduce the career field.

Standards

School Counseling
K-12.3.1 Identify values, attitudes, and beliefs.
K-12.1.1 Develop an awareness of personal abilities, skills, interests, and motivations.
K-12.1.2 Identify personal skills, interests, and abilities and relate them to current career choices.
K-12.1.3 Identify personal preferences and interests which influence career choices and success.
K-12.1.3 Demonstrate how interests, abilities, and achievement relate to achieving career goals.

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Science

8.2.1 Conduct a scientific investigation.
8.2.1 Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
8.2.1 Given evidence, develop explanations.
8.3.2 Investigate the motion of an object by its position, speed, and direction of motion.
8.3.3 Demonstrate how energy is transferred using simple machines.

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Materials and Supplies

Computer access to one of two websites

Annenberg/CPB Learner site, Design a Roller Coaster
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/coaster/

Funderstanding.com, Design a Roller Coaster
http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/
"Designing a Roller Coaster" handout

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Instructions for Educators

1. Hand out "Designing a Roller Coaster"
2. Discuss roller coasters and the use of computer programs to test designs.
3. Have them do "Thinking about Construction Design".
4. Discuss how interest, abilities, and skills are related to career options and choices.
5. Have the students/clients save the "Designing a Roller Coaster" activity in the career portfolios.
6. An optional activity is to have the students/clients, who are interested in this career field, explore occupations related to this activity or the Industrial Manufacturing and Engineering Systems field.

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Designing a Roller Coaster

Your mission is to design a roller coaster so that the riders can get the maximum thrills without crashing.

Do you realize that the coaster has no engine but cars can travel up to 60 miles an hour. The car is pulled to the top of the first hill at the beginning of the ride. After that the coaster must complete the ride on its own. The conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy is what drives the roller coaster. All of the kinetic energy you need for the ride is present once the coaster goes down the first hill.

Once the ride starts, different types of wheels help keep the ride smooth. Running wheels guide the coaster on the track. Friction wheels control movement to either side of the track. A final set of wheels keeps the coaster on the track even if it is upside down. Compressed air brakes stop the car as the ride ends.

Go to one of the following websites and complete a design for a roller coaster.

http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/coaster/

http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/

Thinking about Designing a Roller Coaster

1. This was a challenging activity.	___ Yes ___ No
2. This was an enjoyable activity.	___ Yes ___ No
3. This activity helped me understand what I am good at and not so good at.	___ Yes ___ No
4. This activity helped me think about doing the work of an engineer.	___ Yes ___ No
5. What did you specifically like or dislike about this activity?

6. Would you be interested in designing roads or machines? Testing equipment to be sure it is safe? Creating new products? Making technical drawings?	___ Yes ___ No
Explain why you are interested or not interested in these options.

Save these thoughts in your career portfolio. In the future, review your responses and consider if your interests and preferences have changed. Do you still have the same attitude about the design project? What has stayed the same or changed and why?

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