Procedure:            1. Introduction:  Put together the  K'Nex roller coaster                      a.  divide into groups and give each a section                      b.  put together parts            2. Talk about what speed is.  Us the mathematics equation speed equal s distance divided by time.            3. Show an example of how equation is put together with use of video of cars.            4. Do some sample problems on the board.            5. Split class into groups            6. Then go to roller coaster            7. Time car all the way around once            8. Take distance around it with string and a ruler and have the children do the equations            9. Then mark off different sections of the track           10. Have the children record the distance and time for each section of track, three times.            11. Using the data they have recorded, have them find the speed of the car for each section           12. Then find the average speed for each section.           13. Find average speed for the whole track.

 

Conclusion:  The students will have completed the objective when the fill in the time, distance and speed for each section of the track.

Follow-up activities:        1. Go to an amusement park and find the speed of different types of  roller  coasters        2.build a different kind of roller coaster in the classroom and see the differences in speed from the first roller coaster to the second.

 

Reference:  K'nex Education Department, Roller Coaster Physics, K'nex Industries, Inc., 1997.

 

For more information on the use of K'Nex in your classroom go to  Dr. Kirkwood's  homepage.